Firefighter and paramedic of the year elected

Every year, the staff of the Helsinki City Rescue Department elects the firefighter of the year, ‘Stadin brankkari,’ and now the paramedic of the year, as well.

Station Officer Kimmo Vallgren from the Kontula Rescue Station has been elected ‘Stadin brankkari’, or City of Helsinki firefighter of the year, for 2025.

“It feels wonderful. Personally, I find that because the recipient of the award is nominated by the staff, it feels good: you are honoured by your own community. It reflects the level of trust between the crew and the supervisor. Our entire working culture is good," says Station Officer Kimmo Vallgren, who was elected ‘Stadin brankkari’ 2025.

Vallgren works at the Helsinki City Rescue Department's newest station in Kontula.

"Kontula is a dream come true. It's always been nice to come to work, but it's especially nice to come here. I go to work in the morning with a smile on my face."

The Helsinki City Rescue Department is known for its sense of community and good spirit, and you can become a part of the crew straight away. According to Rescue Chief Marko Rostedt, it says a lot about the work community that several supervisors were nominated for the firefighter of the year award. Vallgren also draws attention to this. He believes that it is essential that the team spirit at the station is good, both among the crew and the supervisors.

Emergency medical services veteran Olof ‘Julle’ Nevalainen has been elected paramedic of the year.

"I am very honoured and humbled by this recognition. We have so many excellent and experienced paramedics here," Nevalainen says.

He was hard at work at Malmi Hospital, handing over a patient, when he was informed of the award. 
“This proves that I have not just been biding my time at work, but people have actually really appreciated me. Many people have come up to me and said "I voted for you, Julle." I'm happy to have a career highlight like this, with only three years left before my retirement. This is my 35th year on the job now," the paramedic says.

He says he is now the second oldest paramedic in the service.
“I can't ask anyone about old events anymore; it is me who gets asked."

Nevalainen has been involved in the ambulance working group for a long time, which means that he has been considering what kind of ambulances are needed in Helsinki. The ambulances, the job description and the workplace have all changed over the decades.

"In the past, the Rescue Department was the most quintessential Helsinki place to work in Helsinki. Now we are all over Finland, and many of us live in the surrounding municipalities," says Nevalainen, who has lived in Helsinki for most of his life.

Before becoming a paramedic, he worked as a sailor and travelled the seas. The sea is still close to his heart: he commutes from Laajasalo to Mellunkylä station by bicycle, all year round, and by ferry from Kruunuvuorenranta to the city centre. 

Award recipients elected by the staff

Every year, the staff of the Helsinki City Rescue Department elects the firefighter of the year, ‘Stadin brankkari,’ and now the paramedic of the year, as well.
The Rescue Department started to grant the award in 2011 to distinguished firefighter-paramedics, fire officers or station officers who work in the front line of rescue and emergency care services.

The criteria for the selection of ‘Stadin brankkari’ include professional skills, motivation, team spirit, respect, initiative, leading by example, fairness, integrity, humanity, extensive skills, excellent work performance and exceptional sacrifice, as well as commitment to the profession, the City of Helsinki and the Rescue Department.

The paramedic of the year is selected on the basis of criteria such as professional competence and its maintenance, exemplary performance, training in the field of health care, working mainly in operational paramedic work, motivation and initiative, team spirit and collegiality, broad appreciation in the work community, fairness and integrity, humanity, a broad vision of one's tasks, demonstration of exceptional professional competence in the workplace and commitment to the paramedic profession.