From left, Southeast Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mark McCormick presents Southeast Firefighter of the Year 2013 award to Daniel Leonard Jr. Photo submitted

Daniel Leonard Jr. was named Southeast Pearl River County firefighter of the year for 2013, said Chief Mark McCormick of Southeast Volunteer Fire Department.

McCormick said Leonard Jr. was recognized by the department at the annual Christmas party in December.

Leonard Jr. is married to Angelee and resides in the Salem community with their three children.

McCormick said Leonard Jr. started his career as a volunteer firefighter in Belle Chase, La. in 1994. He then joined the Southeast Volunteer Fire Department in 2001 after moving to the area.

Leonard Jr.’s other job is at the Chevron Refinery, where he has served on an emergency response team since 1999.

Leonard Jr. is certified as a HAZMAT technician and is trained in high angle and confined space rescue. He is also certified as an emergency medical technician, McCormick said.

Leonard Jr. has attended multiple schools in incident command and serves annually as an instructor for Chevron’s corporate fire school.

He is a certified volunteer firefighter and has attended multiple schools through the Mississippi State Fire Academy on pump operations, auto extraction, water supply and firefighter safety.

“Besides lending his professionalism on multiple incidents throughout our County, he devotes extra time to cleaning and maintaining our stations and equipment. Although he is one of many in our county, he is a great example of what it means to be a servant of others,” McCormick said about Leonard Jr.

Southeast Volunteer Fire Department serves a 35 square-mile district including the Mt. Carmel, Caesar, Salem and Caesar Road communities. The department also covers residences along Mississippi Highway 43 from the Picayune city limits to the Hancock County line.

In 2013, Southeast Volunteer Fire Department received 370 calls, McCormick said.