McQueen is state Firefighter of the Year

By Carrie A. Mizell

Gilchrist County native Wes McQueen was named Career Firefighter of the Year by the Florida State Firefighters Association on June 11.
A firefighter/EMT with Gainesville Fire Rescue for the last eight years, McQueen was awarded a plaque during a recognition ceremony held in Daytona Beach.
The son of Ron and Carol McQueen, Wes was honored for saving the life of Annette Roberts, 70, of Gainesville.

Firefighter/EMT Wes McQueen is shown with Tim Hayes,
department chief of operations for Gainesville Fire Rescue.

On Tuesday morning, McQueen recalled entering the burning Gainesville home on Sept. 26, 2009, shining his flashlight into an addition built onto the home and spotting Roberts’ legs on the floor near a couch.
McQueen was able to rescue the woman from the home, which was located in the Northwood Pines subdivision, and later visited her in the hospital as she was recovering from injuries sustained in the fire.
In addition to being named Career Firefighter of the Year, Gainesville Fire Rescue presented McQueen with the Medal of Lifesaving Liberty Mutual Firemark Award during an awards ceremony held on Jan. 14, 2010.
McQueen, who graduated from Trenton High School in 2000, began his career as a firefighter early on while volunteering with the Fanning Springs Fire Department.