Written by Laura Christmas  

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fl – The Florida Fire Chiefs Association selected Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock as the 2024 recipient of the Florida Fire Chiefs Association’s Frank A. Babinec Lifetime Achievement Award in Firefighter Safety and Health. Members of the Association announced the award at Tuesday’s Clay County Board of County Commissioners meeting.  

This prestigious award represents exceptional achievement in safety and health for the public, and members of the fire service profession. The award is reserved for those fire professionals who have truly made an extraordinary impact on the physical, mental and overall wellbeing of those who are committed to a life of service to the community.  

Mock has continued his dedication to the communities he’s served for nearly 50 years -  marking not just a career, but a lifetime of making a difference.  

Mock has served Clay County for nearly 15 years. Prior to that, he served his community for nearly 30 years with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. As a member of the Florida Domestic Security Oversight Council, Mock helped shape state security policies, contributing to the annual reports provided to the governor and legislature. 

In 2011, the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association asked him to develop and teach an emergency management course for its Executive Services Leadership Institute, which Mock continues to instruct today with the goal of developing the next generation of leaders. As Chairman of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association Domestic Security Resource Committee, Mock ensured Florida's fire and emergency services remain trained and equipped for domestic security incidents. 
 

His vision led to the creation of an innovative mental health program for first responders, providing them with unprecedented support. Mock’s leadership in addressing the opioid crisis through the award-winning Clay County Fire Rescue Community Paramedicine program has set a new benchmark in public health. Another unique program addition is the distribution of over 500 AEDs in the community with a groundbreaking idea of adding NARCAN to every AED with accompanying signage throughout Clay County.  

During his time with Clay County Fire Rescue, Mock also led a charge to fund five new fire stations, bringing them to the most modern standard, which have every safety and health-conscious infrastructure built in. Some built-in items include a design aimed towards mental health, state of the art station alarming, a ‘hot, warm, cold’ concept of segregating carcinogen agents, and extractors and vehicle exhaust systems in all stations. Further, with his leadership, the County approved an impact fee that will bring eight additional expansion stations, one of which is already in a phase of building.  

From an eye toward cancer-causing agents to mental health, to station training, the stations are state-of-the-art and will be the new bar in North Florida, if not the state. This legacy will set an example for the fire service on to take a whole job approach in taking care of the firefighters, while ensuring the most efficient delivery of service is accomplished. 

Mock has left an enduring legacy in the fire service, not just in here Clay County, but throughout the state of Florida. 

The Florida Fire Chiefs Association will honor Mock at its Annual Safety and Health Conference on October 7th and officially present him with this prestigious award. Congratulations, and thank you for your years of service!