SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The 41 members of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) were celebrated Monday night during the department’s annual awards ceremony held at Margaritaville.
Even though SLTFR was founded in 1966, the annual tradition of an awards ceremony did not start until 2015, when Jeff Meston was the chief. The current chief, Jim Drennan, said the department was facing some tough times when Meston became chief in 2013. Drennan said Meston almost “single-handedly turned it all around.”
The accomplishments since “the Meston years” include new equipment, a new fuels division, the reopening of Station #2, and many more additions that have created the current “fire family.” During the evening, they acknowledged two new marriages in the department, along with the birth of three new baby boys.
In 2025, SLTFR responded to 3,154 calls for service.
During Monday’s ceremony, Drennan honored several SLTFR members:
Dispatcher of the Year – Samantha Williams
Firefighter of the Year – James Berthinier
Years of Service – Al Martinez (20), Jonathan Szendrey (5), Leo Gebhardt (5), Dan Brown (5), Chris Grasso (5)
Promotions – Deputy Chief Karl Koeppen, Battalion Chief Tom Kerley, Captain Tom Jones, Engineer Blake Sturdivan
New Hires – Josh Lanning, Michael Borley, Wyatt Braziel, Brent Tajkowky, Josiah Felber
The Fire Chief’s Meritorious Awards and Medals of Valor were previously celebrated along with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. For that list, visit HERE.
