ELKHART — Chaz Taylor was recently presented with the Firefighter of the Year award by the Elkhart Exchange Club.

Taylor, who has been with the Elkhart Fire Department for 20 years, is the department’s hazardous material coordinator.

He was chosen for the honor for many reasons, including his work with the Local Emergency Planning Committee and on a study of hazardous materials that travel through or are stored throughout the county, according to Fire Chief Michial Compton. Taylor also went to southern Indiana in March to help after the Henryville tornado.

“He represented our department and the city of Elkhart with great pride and the professionalism that we should all strive to have,” Compton said.