By Mark Ambrogi
Justin Pataky found he wasn’t suited for a desk job as a tax accountant.
“I was tired of sitting behind a desk all day,” Pataky said. “I was looking for something more hands-on and exciting.”
At the suggestion of his friend Brian Miller, the Zionsville Fire Department Deputy Chief, Pataky checked out the fire department and was hooked with what he witnessed.
Pataky, 33, started as a volunteer in 2008 and was hired as full-time firefighter in January of 2011.
At last year’s Firefighters’ Ball Awards, Pataky was named the Firefighter of the Year. The awards were voted on by Pataky’s peers.
“It’s very humbling,” said Pataky, a 1999 Zionsville High School graduate. “It’s good to be honored by your peers. It pushes all of us to get better.”
This year’s Firefighters’ Ball Awards Banquet will be held on Feb. 7 in the Cardinal Room at Golf Club of Indiana, 6905 South 535 East, Lebanon. Other awards to be given at the banquet are EMT of the Year, Paramedic of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
Pataky said the best part of being a firefighter is the ability to do something that is selfless.
“It sounds cliche but it’s nice to go out and help people,” Pataky said. “We show up on people’s worst day whether they’re sick, have a house fire or been in a car crash. To us it’s our job. To them it’s something horrific. It’s very rewarding to help guide people through that and hopefully at the end of the day we help them have a better outcome than when they called for us. It’s a very rewarding profession. I think that’s what draws you to it. You learn something new every day. Every call is different. It’s very challenging mentally and physically. You have to stay on your toes and keep training.”
Pataky, whose shift is 24 hours on and then 48 hours off, is working at Station 92, 992 S. US 421.
The Firefighters’ Ball is the biggest fundraiser of the year, Pataky said. The funds raised go to fire-fighting safety equipment, Janice VanGorder, president of ZFD Support Service said. VanGorder’s husband James is the Fire Chief.
“It’s also nice for us to interact with people that way instead of a 911 emergency type situation,” Pataky said of the banquet.
The 15th annual Firefighters’ Ball starts with cocktails at 6 p.m. There will be dinner, dancing and a silent auction. The event is open to the public and tickets are $50. The tickets are available at Zionsville Fire Department Headquarters, 1100 W. Oak St., Zionsville, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. or by calling 873-5358. RSVP is requested by Jan. 30.
Other awards issued at last year’s banquet were to Mitch Young, EMT of the Year; Nichole Moss, Paramedic of the Year and Matt Coyner, Rookie of the Year. A citation award was given to Zionsville Police Department officer Adam Harper for assisting in delivering a newborn infant on scene.
Lifesaving awards were given to firefighters Andrew Thomas and Andy Henthorn, firefighters/paramedics Evan Maher and Scott Mamaril and Deputy Chief Brian Miller and Lori Cravens, the victim’s wife, for life-saving action taken with a witnessed cardiac arrest. Jon “Chip” Cravens, the victim, presented the award to each individual.
