William Bergin, a battalion chief with the Hawaii Fire Department, was recently honored by the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii as 2019 County of Hawaii Firefighter of the Year.
Bergin was presented with an individualized award plaque and special gift basket from various Big Island businesses by club president Curtis Chong and event chairperson Joey Estrella at the Hawaii Fire Department administrative office because of the current temporary suspension of public gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bergin, besides his important work as battalion chief for West Hawaii, was honored by the department for his tireless efforts in securing important funding toward necessary equipment and off-road vehicles to battle West Hawaii wildfires. Bergin also was able to secure private resources, saving the county nearly a million dollars for the specialized equipment.
Bergin is a proud member of the Hawaii Fire Department and cares deeply for the men and women under his command, always mindful of keeping them safe from harm. His goal is to leave things better than he found them, and he is grateful for everyone who has been part of creating a safe working environment for the county’s fire personnel.