Palm Bay, FL - The City of Palm Bay will host a special ceremony to honor its Fire Rescue employees for outstanding service and recent life-saving actions. The event will take place on Thursday, February 5, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers at Palm Bay City Hall.
Annual Award Winners
The ceremony will formally recognize several employees who recently received awards from the Space Coast Fire Chiefs’ Association. The following individuals were honored:
•Firefighter of the Year: Kolter Klasek
•Chief Officer of the Year: Brian Miller
•Inspector of the Year: Valerie Baptiste
Off-Duty Heroes Save a Life
In addition to the annual awards, the city will honor Lieutenants Cam Drake and Chris Childs for their heroic actions during a local race. The two were off-duty and participating in the Jingle Bell 2 Mile race in Satellite Beach on December 20, 2025, when a runner collapsed from cardiac arrest.
Lieutenants Drake and Childs immediately stopped to provide assistance to the on-duty crew. Their quick intervention was critical in a life-or-death moment, and the patient was successfully resuscitated before being transported to the hospital.
A Commitment to Service
Satellite Beach Fire Department leadership praised their actions in a statement. “These actions show how much they care for others and that firefighters are never truly off duty,” they shared.
The City of Palm Bay is proud to recognize the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by its Fire Rescue personnel, both on and off the clock.
Community Invited
The public is encouraged to attend the recognition ceremony to celebrate these accomplishments. A cake reception will follow the event at City Hall.
