Words are just moments but actions are momentous.

At their February 18, 2021 meeting, the Kaysville City Council made two special presentations recognizing Kelton Vine as the “2020 Fire Fighter of the Year” and Floyd Landon for 35 years of dedicated service to the Kaysville City Fire Department.

Fire Chief Paul Erickson said Vine started as a part-time/volunteer in 2017, was hired full time in 2018, and was promoted to Engineer in June 2019. He completed his Fire Operations 1 and Incident Command Core trainings, was a full-time student for all of 2020, and had finished up his Paramedic prerequisites. Last month Vine, along with two other firefighters, applied and were accepted to the Paramedic Program at Weber State University. 

Vine ensures all medical supplies are available and ready to go (making sure it happened even during the pandemic to the point they have about eight months of supplies on hand). Erickson said Vine is self-motivated, has a great attitude, and he is honored to be his Chief.  

Vine thanked his wife, the Fire Chief, his parents, his coworkers and the City Council. Chief Erickson and City Council members presented a plaque of appreciation to Kelton Vine as the 2020 Firefighter of the Year.

The City Council followed up with recognition to Firefighter Floyd Landon for 35 years of dedicated service to the Kaysville Fire Department. 

Erickson said Landon moved to Utah from California in 1983 and in 1986, moved to (and remains) in Fruit Heights. In December 1986, he saw an ad in the Davis Clipper for a firefighter position. He applied and was accepted after a six-month probation period. 

Landon held numerous positions within the department along with his other duties (such as Santa Claus, assisting with the Electric Light Parade, keeping the drink/candy machine full, ensuring accuracy of the Firefighter Accountability System, assisting with payroll when the secretary was gone, keeping up with the air packs, oversight and coordination of the Fire Department Open House, and ordering and restocking medical supplies). Landon had trained at the National Fire Academy and was also trained as a Juvenile Fire Counselor. 

Landon has been married for 52 years, has two children and two granddaughters. He is retired from Western Airlines, the United States Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration, and he works one day a week at the Hill Air Force Base Museum. He still helps out a couple days a week in the department and Chief Erickson said it was truly his pleasure to announce this award.

Landon thanked his wife of 52 years. For an interesting fun fact, he said they have a tortoise that had been in his wife’s family since it was 8 (now approximately 72 years old). He said it was considered an endangered species and they brought him here from California. In the summertime, he can roam around the backyard and in the winter time, and he has free rein in the basement. He likes to eat lettuce and dandelions, and he knows his name (Oscar).

The Fire Chief and City Council presented a plaque of appreciation to Floyd Landon for his 35 years of dedicated service to the Kaysville Fire Department.