On Wednesday, Aug. 18, Wake Forest Fire Department Capt. Ian Moffatte was awarded the prestigious VFW National Firefighters Award during a ceremony at Fire Station #1, 420 Elm Avenue.
Battalion Chief Ed Barrett nominated Moffatte for the award, for which he was initially selected by Wake Forest VFW Post 8466. After being recognized at the local level, Moffatte’s nomination was forwarded on to the Department of NC VFW competition before proceeding to the VFW national office.
In his nomination letter, Barrett praised Moffatte’s tireless and innovative efforts to protect Wake Forest firefighters from COVID-19.
“Captain Moffatte has led the effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic response at the Wake Forest Fire Department. Force protection was identified as one of the goals to ensure department emergency operations and provide seamless emergency response to the Wake Forest and surrounding communities.
“Early in the pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) was in short supply nationwide. Wake Forest has about 70 personnel that would be asked to respond on fire, rescue and emergency medical calls to include COVID-19 potential patients. Acquiring PPE vital for operations and devising new efficiencies to extend the current stock of PPE was critical.
“Working with Wake County Emergency Management and studying the Centers for Disease Control recommendations, Captain Moffatte built a COVID-19 Response Program to protect fire personnel and citizens in the community. Captain Moffatte engineered PPE disinfection protocols that extended current PPE stocks.
“This program was so successful agencies in the county adopted Captain Moffatte’s innovation. His contributions to the department and his community have been exemplary.”
A native of Middleburg Heights, Ohio, Moffatte moved to North Carolina in 2003. After serving for several years as a paramedic for Wake County EMS, he joined the Wake Forest Fire Department as a firefighter in 2007. He was promoted to Captain in June 2015.
Moffatte has an associate’s degree in Fire Science from Coastal Carolina Community College and is two semesters away from earning a bachelor’s degree in Fire and Emergency Services Administration from Fayetteville State University.
“We are extremely proud of Capt. Moffatte,” said Fire Chief Ron Early. “His efforts effectively reflect our department’s care and concern for both our firefighters and the community we serve.”
For more information, contact Chief Early at 919-556-1966 or rearly@wakeforestnc.gov.
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