Minnetonka's bravest just got his due. Retired Fire Chief John Vance was celebrated as the city's Firefighter of the Year last Saturday. The accolade, dubbed the Chief Kenny Johnson Award, is no small feat—named after the city department's founding father, it champions the ethos 'Service Before Self'.

In a ceremony that saw the town's fire department congregated for its annual awards banquet, Vance, who hung up his helmet in January after a decade's leadership, was honored for his unfaltering dedication. "He has pushed for constant, steady, continuous improvement every single day and has been incredibly successful at doing so," Interim Chief Kevin Fox lauded in a ceremony that lauded his colleague's contributions, according to the official city release.

Vance's vision for Minnetonka's Fire Department was crystal clear: be the paragon of 'fireground excellence'—which, for those not in the know, means being damn good at putting out fires, managing the chaos and saving lives. "We are now a department with a focus on training and fireground excellence and we owe a huge amount of its success to his long-term vision and clear focus," Fox added.

But Vance was quick to deflect the spotlight. "I am incredibly honored to receive this award," he told the 165 attendees and shared the credit with the fellow firefighters he led. It's a cohesive unit that's committed to the safety and values of their city and it's clear Vance's legacy will be one of shared courage and relentless training.