PORT CHARLOTTE — Charlotte County Fire & EMS Lt. Jefferson Mendel was named Florida’s 2025 Career Firefighter of the Year by Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Blaise Ingoglia, county officials announced.
Mendel was recognized for his leadership and lifesaving actions during two separate structure fires in Charlotte County during his first year as a lieutenant.
During a fire on Barre Drive, Mendel helped rescue several people from a heavily involved home by entering through a small bathroom window while crews worked under extreme fire conditions, according to county officials…