Story provided by City of Stillwater

The Stillwater Fire Department held a pinning ceremony Friday marking the promotions of Lt. Reagan Caram and Lt. Matt Webb to the rank of Captain.

Caram is a paramedic, Emergency Medical Services instructor and member of the Regional Hazardous Material Response Team who has served with SFD since 2005. He promoted to driver in 2008, Lt. Medical Officer in 2010 and Fire Lieutenant in 2015. He serves as Chair of the advisory committee for the department’s new Station 2.

Webb came to SFD in 2014 after serving with the Winfield Fire Department for three years. He promoted to Lt. Medical Officer in 2015 and Fire Lieutenant in 2021. He serves as a member of the Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team and was named SFD Firefighter of the Year in 2022.

Surrounded by family and friends, and in a room filled with fellow firefighters and City of Stillwater representatives, the two men received new gold badges and new collar brass as a symbol of their new rank.

Fire Chief Terry Essary explained that the two golden bugles on their badges and collar brass reference the history of firefighting and represent leadership on the fire ground, and he called on them to advance the department’s mission:

·        To be fully prepared to respond swiftly to any situation to help those in need;

·        To honor its heritage while moving boldly into the future; and

·        To relentlessly serve others with kindness, courage and professionalism.

“Captains are the leaders on the front lines,” Essary said. “They are a player and a coach, a mentor, a friend, a teacher and there is not a single person on this fire department that can make a larger impact for the people that we serve… You are leading men and women [firefighters] into harm’s way, if necessary in order to serve the people who count on us every minute of every day.”