SPRINGDALE (KFSM) -- A Springdale firefighter was surprised with the firefighter of the year award at Tuesday's (Dec. 13) City Council meeting.
"I think it's an honor to get the award," Joshua King said. "It's nice to be recognized, not that I was trying to accomplish that. It was quite a surprise when they chose me."
The military veteran started his firefighting career almost 20 years ago in 1998 after watching his uncle do the job.
"I think the comradery with all the guys is above an beyond any other workplace that there could be," King said.
The plaque was presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars before King's family, friends and colleagues.
King said the adrenaline rush of the job drives him, but making a permanent differences in someone's life is the lasting reward.
"One day we happen to get a call on the ambulance to go pick up a helicopter crew to go pick up a patient and take them to the helicopter and fly him to the hospital because it was the best day of his life," he said. "He was getting a new heart."