Costa Mesa honors Firefighter of the Year

The Costa Mesa Fire Department selected a longtime member of the force as its 2014 Firefighter of the Year, the department announced last week.

Capt. Rob Gagne, a 24-year member of the department, received the recognition at a ceremony hosted by American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291 in honor of local law enforcement.

The annual award goes to the firefighter picked by his peers, Chief Dan Stefano explained.

“The contributions that Rob has made to the fire service, our organization and the community we serve are beyond impressive, on duty and off duty,” he added in a prepared statement.

According to the department, Gagne distinguished himself in part by serving as president of the Costa Mesa Firefighters Assn., previously leading the department’s honor guard and overseeing the department’s urban search and rescue unit.

Gagne also manages the CMFD’s Fire Explorers, a youth program that the department said is known as one of the best in California.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Rob on our team and appreciate the unwavering support his family provides him,” Stefano said.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck