SIDNEY, Neb. — The Sidney Volunteer Fire Department honored years of service, dedication and standout performance during its 2026 Awards Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Sidney Elks Lodge.

Hayden Hofrock served as master of ceremonies, with the invocation and prayer delivered by Chaplain Loren Rood. Volunteer firefighters, their families, department supporters and local officials attended a prime rib and chicken dinner, including Mayor Brandon Bondegard, Councilman Brett Kerkman, Interim City Manager Josh Hanson, Sidney Police Chief Sam Lovato, Cheyenne County Sheriff Adam Frerichs and Rural Board Member Larry Peetz.

Fire Chief Mathew Butts reviewed the department’s 2025 activity, reporting 261 emergent incidents that accounted for 2,308 hours and 32 minutes of response time. The department also handled 67 non-emergent events totaling 1,226 hours and three minutes, completed 3,368 training hours and logged 6,902 hours and 35 minutes across all activities.

Butts said crews provided mutual aid 49 times and received aid on 12 occasions. Fire responses involved 176.21 acres burned. Average response times from dispatch to arrival were 5 minutes, 27 seconds in the city and 10 minutes, 35 seconds in rural areas, both below National Fire Protection Association benchmarks.

Years of service awards were presented to Firefighter AJ Cloud (five years), Chief Butts (20 years), Assistant Chief Dana Reece (25 years), Firefighter Larry Johnson (30 years), Assistant Chief Ron Leal (35 years) and Engineer Rob Roderick (35 years).

Roderick was also honored with the department’s first Meritorious Service Award in its 147-year history.

“It is a very big honor to win that. I didn’t expect it,” Roderick said. “I was shocked. It couldn’t be me. Had to be someone else.”

Roderick said serving on the department is a family tradition.

“I followed my dad’s footsteps. It’s something I always wanted to do,” he said. “It’s a very big honor to serve on as a firefighter here in town. I’ll never retire from the department. It’s a family to me.”

Additional awards included EMS Provider of the Year to Tim Bassett, Rookie of the Year to Zane Butts and Firefighter of the Year to Charlie Roderick.

Charley Roderick was recognized for continuing to fight a fire for nearly two hours after breaking his leg during a call.

“It’s an awesome achievement,” he said. “That’s something you don’t think about throughout the year, but it’s awesome to be recognized by your peers and know that you’re being seen.”

On sharing the awards night with his father, Charley said, “I don’t know the words to describe it, but it’s an awesome feeling.”

The banquet concluded with remarks from local dignitaries and a special address from former Sidney Police Officer and volunteer firefighter Curtis Hofrock.