Eagle fireman accepts honor with humility
New Hope Gazette
By Mason Neely, Staff Writer
10/29/2003

 
As Eagle's 2003 Burpee Award winner, Craig Forbes says he only wants to help the community.
Each year the Bucks County Chamber of Commerce organizes and sponsors the Burpee Awards to honor the county's outstanding fire and rescue personnel. One of this year's 22 recipients is life-long New Hope resident and Eagle Fire Company volunteer fireman, Craig Forbes.
In a ceremony held Saturday evening at Spring Mill Manor, Forbes was presented with the award after being nominated by his fellow firemen for his commitment and passion on the job.
 
A 12-year veteran of the company, Forbes, a carpenter by trade with an extensive background in scouting, also serves as assistant fire marshal for New Hope Borough and deputy coordinator for New Hope Emergency Management.

He said that while receiving a commendation like the Burpee was a honor, his involvement with Eagle Fire Company and his commitment to protecting New Hope are about much more than getting awards.
"It's great to be considered one of those people every year who puts in the time and effort to help the department," Forbes said. "We're a small company so to have my name chosen ... it's nice to be recognized by the community, but you'll find that most people in the fire service don't do it for the recognition, they do it for the satisfaction of helping the community and helping individuals."

After a stint as battalion chief, Forbes, 30, served as assistant chief for nearly four years, and, in addition to his training as a fire responder, has taken specialized training in swift water rescue in order to work in Eagle Fire's new river protection service as a hovercraft pilot. It's an impressive resume but one that Forbes views with humility, letting his peers boast for him.

"He's been an excellent fireman the entire time he's been here.We all thought he deserved the award," said New Hope Fire Marshal and Eagle Fire Company President Fred Williamson. "He's always been fully committed to the firehouse. Very hard-working. Unless he's in some ungodly place, he responds every time."
Williamson said what makes the Burpees so special is that honorees are selected by their peers; each firehouse and rescue unit nominates and candidate for the award.

"It's great because the people you work with everyday choose the individual they think has shown outstanding merit and Craig was picked because everyone thought the showed that and always has," Williamson said.   It's that kind of reputation Forbes hopes to continue by working with the company for as long as he's able. Still a young man, it's a career that should last quite a while.   "As long as I'm in the area, I absolutely plan to be a part of Eagle Fire and to help the company," he said.

This year marked the 31st presentation of the awards and according to Heather Cevasco, chairman of the Burpee Emergency Services Committee, gave the chamber a chance to give a much needed thanks to the men and women she calls "true heroes."

"It was a wonderful night for everyone," she said. "Our committee's goal is to put on this great event and honor these men and women. It's so important because they really are our true hero's and it's an amazing experience for them. They put their lives on the line everyday to protect the community, so it's the least we can do to recognize them like this."