Scott Northrop was honored as the Edwardsburg Fire Department’s Fireman of the Year Oct. 26.

Northrop becomes the sixth Fireman of the Year. Jimmy Otis received the award in 2015.

Tom Smith received the training award, while Jerry Gibson was honored for 50 years of service.

Northrop joined the volunteer fire department two years ago. He said he was shocked by the honor.

“It was a blessing,” he said. “I appreciated it so much. To be recognized, especially in a volunteer status, where we just do it for the community and not ourselves.”

The Edwardsburg Fire Department started hosting awards dinners in October 2007 so the department could honor lifetime firefighters (those with 10 or more years of service). It also honored former firefighters and new firemen who joined the department that year.

The department handed out its first fireman of the Year award to Jesse Bement in 2008. Raymond Doyle followed in 2009 with Dick Boepple, Gene Montgomery, Steve Peters and William Stack sharing the award in 2010.

Northrop said he does not count himself above anyone who is on that list, or for that matter, any other firefighter in the department.

“I am pretty much just a certified firefighter doing the will of God,” he said. “It is what I plan to do for the rest of my life.”

The remaining award winners are:

• Vincent Vargo, 2011
• Thomas Smith, 2012
• Kevin Stack, 2013
• Chad King, 2014
• Jimmy Otis, 2015