Gilberto Meza-Corral, a firefighter from Concord, was awarded the Kim Wittig Award of Excellence at the 49th Annual North Carolina Fire & Life Safety Educators' Conference. His work in educating others about fire safety, particularly to underrepresented communities, earned him the recognition.
The award honors a firefighter each year for exceptional contributions to fire and life safety education across North Carolina. Meza-Corral, a bilingual fire safety educator and assistant fire marshal with extensive experience, has focused on ensuring that safety messages reach all members of the community. This is evident in his work providing specialized bed-shaking smoke alarms to hearing-impaired youths in Concord.
Nominated by his peers, Meza-Corral is recognized for his extensive knowledge and commitment to the cause. He expressed appreciation for receiving the award, noting in a statement obtained by City of Concord, “I am grateful and truly humbled to receive this award. It means a lot to me and it’s one of the highlights of my career so far,” further stating, “While I’m still speechless from this unexpected recognition, I’m truly honored and will continue using my knowledge, skills, and community connections to reduce risks and save lives.”
Gilberto, a nine-year veteran of the City of Concord Fire Department, was recognized with both the regional and state Firefighter of the Year Award from American Legion Post 51 in 2024. His recognition highlights his ongoing service and focus on safety and prevention.
