12/14/2025
🔥 Honoring Service, Dedication, and Community Excellence 🔥
We are proud to recognize several outstanding individuals whose commitment, leadership, and support have strengthened our department and our community in remarkable ways.
🚒 Firefighter of the Year – Jason Munyan
Every year, our officers face the difficult task of selecting the Firefighter of the Year. We are fortunate to have many members who consistently go above and beyond. Since joining in 2022, Jason has been a top run finisher and is always the first to lend a hand—whether it’s helping with parades, sports escorting, special details, or simply pitching in around the station. His reliability, work ethic, and positive attitude make him an invaluable member of our team. Congratulations, Jason, on being named this year’s Firefighter of the Year!
👨✈️ Officer of the Year – Eric Emmert
Our membership selects the Officer of the Year, and this year’s choice reflects countless hours of dedication both on and off the scene. Eric is consistently a top 5 run finisher and spends numerous hours behind the scenes ensuring the station and organization run smoothly. His leadership was especially vital this past year as we navigated the design and early construction of the new station addition. Eric attended weekly conference calls, meetings, and played a key role in securing the funding granted to the township. We again extend our appreciation to State Representative Kevin Miller and Senator Tim Schaffer for their support. Congratulations to Eric Emmert, our 2025 Officer of the Year!
🏅 Citizens of the Year – Yvonne Williams & Chuck Underwood
This year, we are honored to recognize two individuals whose decades of service as local business owners and community supporters have made a lasting impact.
Yvonne Williams of The Carriage Out has always been there for our department—providing refreshments for daily needs and special events, holding packages when no one was on station, and supporting community initiatives such as the Somerset Community Celebration Committee and the Somerset Children’s Christmas Fund. Her kindness and reliability have meant more than words can express.
Chuck Underwood, 4th‑generation owner of Underwood’s Hardware, has supported our department for decades by keeping our tools and saws running—no matter how badly we managed to break them. Chuck is also a 25‑year member of the fire department and previously served as Assistant Chief. As he begins his new role as township trustee, we look forward to continuing to work alongside him.
Congratulations to Yvonne Williams and Chuck Underwood, our Citizens of the Year!
🎖️ Lifetime Service Award – T.F. “Tim” Emmert This year, we are proud to present a special award to someone whose decades of dedication have shaped the very foundation of our department. Tim served as a firefighter for 20 years, held the position of Assistant Chief, and continues to be an active honorary member who never misses a special event. He recently completed his final term as township trustee, where he was instrumental in ensuring the department had the equipment, apparatus, and resources needed to serve our community—including the acquisition of multiple engines, Tanker 6, the grass truck, and now the new station addition. His involvement in the design process and his unwavering support have left a lasting legacy. In our eyes, Tim Emmert stands alongside legends such as Chief Wagner and Ed Snider. Congratulations, Tim, on receiving the Lifetime Service Award.
