01-03-2025
Concord firefighter receives NC Award of Excellence for safety initiative that helps hearing impaired
CONCORD, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Concord firefighter received state honors recently for his fire safety efforts that help the hearing impaired.
Gilberto Meza-Corral received the Kim Wittig Award of Excellence during the 49th Annual North Carolina Fire & Life Safety Educators' Conference held this week in Concord. This award is given each year to a firefighter who demonstrates excellence in Fire and Life Safety Education in North Carolina.
Photos: Family displaced after fire damages Concord home
A nine-year member of the Concord Fire Department, Meza-Corral is a bilingual Fire Safety Educator and Assistant Fire Marshal, and the fire department says he 'has an unmatched passion for reaching those who are often overlooked.' He brought bed-shaking smoke alarms to children and young adults in Concord who are hearing impaired.
Meza-Corral was nominated for the Award of Excellence by a fellow fire educator.
'I am grateful and truly humbled to receive this award. It means a lot to me and it's one of the highlights of my career so far,' said Meza-Corral in a statement. 'While I'm still speechless from this unexpected recognition, I'm truly honored and will continue using my knowledge, skills, and community connections to reduce risks and save lives.'
This honor is the latest recognition for Meza-Corral. In 2024, Meza-Corral was awarded both the regional and state Firefighter of the Year Award from American Legion Post 51.
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