The Vindicator is seeking nominations for its annual Mahoning County Firefighter of the Year competition.

Nominees will be evaluated on dedication, productivity, loyalty and professionalism. They must serve with a fire department in Mahoning County, be at least 18 and hold any rank below chief officer.

Fire department personnel can nominate a fellow firefighter, but nominations also can be submitted by the public. Nominators should include a written statement explaining why the individual meets the criteria for the award, and the nominations should include no more than five pages of supporting documentation, including news articles, fire reports and photos.

The winner will be announced in a special section during Fire Prevention Week, which is the first week of October. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 12.

Nominations can be sent to The Vindicator Firefighter Award, 240 Franklin St. SE, Warren, OH 44483, or emailed to community events coordinator Sue Shafer at sshafer@tribtoday.com. For more information, call Shafer at 330-841-1696.