Justin Burnett, reporter for the Whidbey News-Times, was selected as the first place winner of the Benjamin Franklin Writers Award.

It was awarded by the National Fire Heritage Center for his three-part series on the history and current challenges faced by Central Whidbey Fire & Rescue in maintaining effective volunteer staffing.

Burnett’s series was selected as the first-place winner in competition with all types of writing, including national magazines, non‐fiction books, fiction books, and media presentations.

The National Fire Heritage Center in Emmitsburg, Md. was established to preserve and provide access to all types of documents related to the history of the fire service in the United States.

Central Whidbey Fire & Rescue officials will present Burnett with the award at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13 at Fire Station 51, 109 North Main St. in Coupeville.