VERO BEACH — Indian River County Fire Rescue (IRCFR) is recognizing six members who have each reached 20 years with the department, a combined 120 years of service to county residents.
Honorees
- Deputy Fire Chief Sean Gibbons
- Battalion Chief Michael Bernstein
- Lt. James Holbrook
- Lt. Ryan Krueger
- Lt. Christopher Trent
- Engineer Stacy Zedek
In a statement, the Indian River County Fire Rescue said the six have “answered the call, served our community, supported your fellow firefighters, and helped make Indian River County Fire Rescue the department it is today.”
A 20-year career in fire-rescue covers nights, weekends, and holidays, responding to structure fires, vehicle wrecks, medical calls, and water rescues. Members work as dual-certified firefighters and emergency medical providers, and many take on added roles in training, command and community programs.
Gibbons serves as deputy fire chief for administration and operations, and Fire Chief David Johnson leads the agency.
Zedek was named Engineer of the Year in the department’s 2022-23 awards and had 16 years of service at the time. Krueger also serves as general manager of the Indian River County Firefighters’ Fair.
Holbrook was among a group of department members who completed an Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Panama City earlier this year.
County fire service dates to Dec. 17, 1923, when the first local fire department was formed as a volunteer force. Indian River County Fire Rescue now operates out of 14 active numbered fire stations across the county. Stations are dispersed through Vero Beach, Sebastian, Fellsmere, Wabasso, and surrounding unincorporated areas.
Fire Rescue did not announce a public ceremony with the 20-year recognition.
