Inside today’s newspaper, you’ll find a special section dedicated to honoring the bravery and service of local firefighters. The annual winners of the Firefighter of the Year award, presented by the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator and sponsored by SERVPRO, have been announced.

Now in its sixth year, the award, given to one firefighter in Mahoning County and one in Trumbull County, seeks to honor the bravery and self-sacrifice of these everyday heroes who work to keep our community safe.

The awards would not be possible without the support of the longtime sponsor, SERVPRO.

“At SERVPRO, we stand behind firefighters and respect the work they do,” said Jim Standohar, director of strategic partnerships for SERVPRO. “First responding is an amazing career to take on. Any time you have people in your community who have chosen to help others, we elevate them.”

Collaborating with fire and rescue is the essence of what SERVPRO does as a restoration company, Standohar said. The company is a cleaning, restoration and construction company — they are specialists in those fields. When firefighters finish their work, the company starts their work in helping the community recover from a loss.

SERVPRO has served Trumbull County and surrounding areas since 2011. The company is headquartered on Youngstown Road in Warren and employs 300 people locally.

NEW PRIZE PACKAGE

New this year, Seraphina Safety, a Cortland-based manufacturer of flame-resistant undergarments and base layer apparel, is sponsoring the $650 prize package for the Firefighter of the Year award — an initiative aimed at honoring the bravery and service of local firefighters while raising awareness about safety innovations in protective gear.

The company, founded by Kelly Franko, specializes in base layers designed for professionals working in high-heat environments. Targeted industries include oil and gas, electrical utilities, steel manufacturing, fire service and motorsports. The garments are engineered to protect against thermal hazards, including arc flash, flash fire, and molten steel exposure — offering a critical layer of defense beneath traditional outerwear.

Franko began her entrepreneurial journey when she founded a company after noticing a need for well-fitting bras for women with larger cup sizes. That insight led her to open a retail boutique in Warren in 2008.

But when the boutique was displaced in 2018 because of redevelopment, Franko found herself at a crossroads. While attending the Professional Racing Industry (PRI) motorsports event later that year, she met with a Top-Fuel female driver she had previously worked with, when the question was asked if Franko could make a flame-resistant bra.

“I was kind of stuck on the why,” she said. “Why isn’t a flame-resistant bra already available?” she said. “Surely somebody’s already done this. But no.”

Soon after, the company expanded its product line to include fire-resistant women’s underwear and base layer garments and eventually, a men’s line of similar products. Despite setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the loss of a manufacturer, the company officially launched in July 2021 and began marketing its products in mid-2022.

Since then, Franko has been on the road full-time, educating industries about the importance of flame-resistant undergarments and base layers.

“It’s grown quite a bit just because that’s my only focus, educating people on why they need the product,” she said.

The decision to sponsor the Firefighter of the Year award was a natural fit. Located across from the Cortland Fire Department, the company recently partnered with Workwear Outfitters to offer complete safety-standard-compliant gear packages. The prize includes a full flame-resistant base layer set and a choice between a uniform or outerwear jacket.

“This gives us an opportunity to get people a complete set of compliant garments,” Franko said.

Franko emphasized the importance of educating firefighters about what they wear beneath their turnout gear.

“Cotton doesn’t protect you,” she said. “Whether it melts or disintegrates, you are at risk for burn injuries. You really need to think about what you’re putting on.”