BOCA RATON –Boca Raton Fire Explorer Post #315 held its seventh annual awards
night at The 6500 Building in Boca Raton Dec. 20. Twenty two young men and women
from Boca Raton received awards of achievement for their work as Fire Explorers.
Explorer Lieutenant Brandon Indiviglio received the award for Fire Explorer of the Year
while former Explorers now Advisors Kevin Zimbrick and Matt Reeves received the
Countess de Hoernle Outstanding Achievement Award named in her honor for her
outstanding work in the community.
More than 100 family members, former Explorers and friends were present as the
Boca Raton Fire Rescue Pipe and Drum led the way for the Fire Explorer award
winning Honor Guard to post the colors for this event. Also present were Fire Chief
Tom Wood, Assistant Fire Chief Raul Travieso, Local 1560 President Captain John
Luca and Division Chief Norm Engel. Boca Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel gave the
keynote address.
Thanks to a generous donation from the Countess de Hoernle, Explorers have been
able to complete the necessary schooling to be eligible for employment in the fire
service. To date Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services have hired seven of their Fire
Explorers. Seven additional Explorers who have completed their EMT training are
ready for the Fire Academy, and one has completed the EMT and Fire Academy and is
currently in Paramedic school.