A Florida-based Internet organization praised the web site of Salem's Fire Department for getting
a Golden Web Award for excellence in terms of public service.This award is a recognition for originality of web design and contents.
It launched site's popularity all around the world.
The site itself contains a great deal of information such as pictures of the majority of department's firefighters,
releases about rescue operations ang fires,audio from the department's weekly KBZY broadcast,pages about fire prevention.
This recognition came as a surprise to the department since the nomination was proposed by a single fan.However the number of voters
scaled up rapidly reaching 500 people per day logging on.
The main person in charge of the site is Deputy Fire Marshal Bill Holmstrom who has not an outstanding experience in web design
but has obviously done a good job.The site is updated several times daily with new releases or calendar events.Its videos of fire emergencies
are even used by media (Portland television stations).
In Salem Fire Chief's opinion the site is an efficient way of continual communication with society,including children.It features a curious
section called "Ask Firefighter Bill",through which an abundant variety of questions from throughout the world is met in a professional way
by the firefighter himself.The list of contacts includes students from opposite parts of the world searchig for both curious details and career advice.
