City Council honors five Apopka firefighters

The Apopka City Council honored five firefighters from the Apopka Fire Department at its Wednesday meeting during the employee recognition ceremony.

Earl Hines was recognized for five years of service with the AFD. Hines is a firefighter first class and has served with the AFD as a volunteer until 2012 when he became an official member of the department. He is currently listed as firefighter/suppression.

Eric Howard and Jerold Maynard were honored for 10 years of service with the AFD. Howard began his career in 2007 and is currently listed as Firefighter 1st Class/Suppression.

Howard began his career in 2007 and is currently listed as Firefighter 1st Class/Suppression. Maynard also started in 2007 and is listed as Firefighter 1st Class/EMS.

Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer also had thoughts about Maynard's service in the community.

Beyond working for the city as a firefighter, Gerald Maynard does a lot for Apopka," Kilsheimer said. "Whenever someone needs him, he is there. Thank you for all you do."

There were also two 30-year veterans with the AFD that were recognized for their service - William Stokes and Todd Bengtson.

Stokes was a volunteer before starting as a firefighter for the AFD in 1987. By 1988 he was promoted to Firefighter 1st Class, Engineer in 1990, and in 1995 became a Lieutenant which is his current rank.

Bengtson worked as a volunteer before starting as a temporary firefighter in 1987. In 1988 he was re-classified as a regular Firefighter and then Firefighter 1st Class later that year. In 1990, Bengtson was promoted to Engineer, then Lieutenant in 1999, and Captain in 2003. His current rank is District Chief which he has held since 2007.

Kilsheimer also praised Bengtson on his community service.

"There are few people in the city of Apopka that are more available than Todd Bengtson. He goes far and wide to help people out. There was a great story just a few weeks ago where a citizen in town who is well known to a lot of people... his father was ill in a state far away and Todd helped make arrangements to get this man back to his home state where he passed away shortly after that, but without Todd, it wouldn't have happened."