Novato Firefighter-Paramedic​ Earns 'Firefighter Hero Award​'

NOVATO, CA — The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Maglite honored Novato Fire Protection District firefighter-paramedic Nicole Scott Wednesday with the Firefighter Hero Award. Scott was recognized for her leadership in addressing the behavioral health of firefighters.

"Nicole genuinely cares about the health and safety of all our firefighters and actively seeks new and innovative ways to bring it to our group," Fire Chief Bill Tyler said.

"This can be a difficult area of support and Nicole has committed to help when others are not comfortable or willing to go. This requires physical strength and mental and emotional courage. Nicole is helping people on their worst day and meeting the issues that surface head on, to help reduce these mental injuries and return our firefighters to the job healthier and more prepared to face the next call."

Scott represents California firefighters on the statewide behavioral task force, Tyler said.

"She has taken many hours of training, learned and shared best practices, and identified qualified, local and regional culturally competent counselors and resources, and connected those resources to our firefighters in beneficial and meaningful ways," he said.

The National Firefighter Hero program is a joint effort between Maglite and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The program honors single firefighters, groups or whole departments for "extraordinary commitment to upholding excellence in firefighting and related activities."

"Firefighters have extremely difficult and stressful jobs and are all heroes and we are very pleased to honor Nicole Scott through this program," said Anthony Maglica, founder and CEO of Mag Instrument Inc., manufacturer of the Maglite flashlight.

"Our partnership with Maglite affords us the opportunity to acknowledge the great work being done by firefighters and fire departments around the country to keep us all safe," said Ronald Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.