Dustin Hill is no stranger to service. He’s served his country in the Florida National Guard and now serves his community as part of Plant City Fire Rescue. So, at least to his colleagues, it’s no surprise that Hill was named this year’s Firefighter of the Year.
“I didn’t expect it,” Hill said.
He learned about the distinction earlier this month from Fire Chief Dan Azzariti. The department held a ceremony Nov. 21, at the Olin S. Wright Masonic Lodge.
Hill didn’t always want to be a firefighter, but that giving spirit has remained throughout his life. After he graduated high school, he entered the Florida National Guard, with dreams of becoming a military police officer.
When he got back from basic training, he volunteered with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. It was just three months after 9/11.
“I got a good understanding of the brotherhood and pride in what they do,” Hill said. “From then on, I didn’t want to do anything else.”
In 2002, Hill attended fire school at Hillsborough Community College and EMT school at Florida Medical Training Institute. In April 2004, he was hired in Plant City.
But, it wasn’t long before he was called to duty. In 2005, he deployed to Afghanistan. In 2010, he found himself again in the Middle East, this time to Iraq, where he was instrumental in protecting his fellow soldiers.
It was a particularly busy summer. A lot of troops were pulling out of the area. Hall was working security, moving trucks to the airport outside of Bagdad.
“The streets weren’t incredibly safe,” Hill said.
Suddenly, Hill noticed opposition moving in on them in an attempted ambush. He pulled two gun trucks to the front to get everyone inside airport gates. It was the job of an officer, but Hill took the helm.
“It’s a job,” Hill said. “You do what you got to do. You don’t put much thought into it. I didn’t think it was anything special.”
During his tours, Hill received a Bronze Star. To this day he wears a tattered bracelet with the name of a friend who died in Afghanistan.
“It’s a way to honor him,” Hill said. “It’s the ultimate sacrifice. It’s the least we could do while we’re still alive.”
Hill finds the same sense of camaraderie at the fire department.
“When the tones goes off, I don’t get in the truck by myself,” Hill said. “That’s why I think there should be a crew of the year award.”
Hill also was added recently to the Emergency Response Team.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.