Two local firefighters received high honors from the Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association this month.

During the ECFA’s January meeting, Pantego Volunteer Fire Department Chief-elect James Scheffler was recognized as Volunteer Fire Officer of the Year, while Washington Fire-Rescue-EMS Battalion Chief Jonathan Hardin was recognized as Career Officer of the Year.

Scheffler has served with the Pantego Fire Department since 2014, also serving with the Belhaven Fire Department for four years. A pastor at West Belhaven Church, he was recently elected chief of the Pantego Fire Department. Graduating from the Beaufort Fire Academy in 2017, Scheffler has been heavily involved in training in and around his community since joining the department.

“Being a preacher in a local church, it’s always been my passion and desire to help people,” Scheffler said. “What better way to try to make an impact for God’s kingdom than to help people who are really at the worst moment of their life?”

As chief at the Pantego Fire Department, Scheffler says he hopes to incorporate more advance trainings for members when it comes to hazmat and extrication situations. He also wants to participate in more joint trainings with other departments, which often respond to the same calls. In doing so, Scheffler hopes they will be better prepared to operate in tandem.

Hardin, meanwhile, has been a member of Washington Fire-Rescue and EMS since 2003, rising through the ranks from firefighter to engineer to lieutenant to captain and finally battalion chief in 2014. In that role, Hardin has taken a lead role as a shift commander and the department’s training coordinator.

“Over the last couple years, we’ve been able to bring the training in so we could get everybody certified in all the North Carolina specialty classes, like trench rescue, water rescue, agricultural rescue and high-angle rescue,” Hardin said. “Through those trainings, we were able to get equipment to upgrade our services. … We’re pretty much lifetime students.”

While he has led the charge with the department’s trainings, Hardin is also furthering his own education, pursuing a bachelor’s degree from Fayetteville State University. He has also served in a volunteer capacity with the Clarks Neck, Bunyan and Eastern Pines volunteer fire departments.

Covering 36 counties in Eastern North Carolina, the mission of the ECFA is to support its members by offering education, information and representation for the fire service of ENC. Washington Fire Marshal Doug Bissette serves as second vice president on the organization’s Board of Directors.

“Both (Scheffler and Hardin) are very dedicated to the fire service, not just their department, but Beaufort County as a whole,” Bissette said. “There are a lot of people in this county that care about it and want to move it forward. These are just two examples of people that are leading the way to make this county more fire safe. When we have a call, our firefighters are more prepared because of people like this.”

For more information on the ECFA, visit www.encfa.org.