From the St. Helena Star:

So far, 2010 has been a pretty good year for Adam Waters.

On Saturday night in an event at the St. Helena fire station, Waters was named St. Helena’s Volunteer Fire Fighter of the Year. For a second time. He previously won the award in 2005.

This year’s honor came two months after Waters was promoted to captain.

“There was an vacancy when (former St. Helena Volunteer Fire Chief Kevin Twohey) moved,” said Fire Chief John Sorensen. “Six captains moved up and then were was an opening. All the officers collectively chose Adam for that vacancy.”

Sorensen, who presented a plaque to Waters at a dinner at the fire station, said that the new captain’s strengths were his consistency and willingness to take the initiative.

Estimating that about 70 percent of his emergency calls were for paramedic help, Waters said, “The worst part about this job is getting up at 3 o’clock in the morning to help some old lady out. But if we don’t do it, who will? Those people need help. Your house burning down would be a big deal to you, but getting people to a hospital is a big deal, too.

Waters, who has been a St. Helena volunteer firefighter for 7 1/2 years and came here from Yreka, works at a landfill business in Calistoga. He harbors no desire to move from the volunteer ranks to full-time fireman.

“I did, but I get to do everything a paid firefighter does,” he said.

“I like working at the landfill and I like the camaraderie of the other firefighters. There are good guys here. I know a lot of people. And it’s a good thing to give something back.”