Fire Chief

The International Association of Fire Chiefs celebrated its 135th anniversary during Fire-Rescue International last week in Denver. The theme of the conference and exhibition was “Soaring to New Heights,” and make no mistake — this was a conference about chiefs.

The general session began with a dramatic re-enactment from the Great Boston Fire of 1872, and then–Boston Fire Chief John Stanhope Damrell‘s arguments for better building codes with local government leaders. The fire destroyed more than 700 buildings, displaced hundreds of people and took 30 lives.

Damrell called for a conference of engineers and officers, forming a year after the fire what eventually became the IAFC. “This audience is very much like that first group that I addressed at that meeting,” said the Damrell character in the re-enactment. “They are still here because you are here. I saw the same commitment and enthusiasm that have long been fostered by the IAFC.”

Recalling Boston‘s devastation and Damrell‘s anger with local leaders, IAFC President Steve Westerman encouraged the audience to support the upcoming residential fire sprinklers vote Sept. 21 in Minneapolis “You must make your voice heard,” he said. “Fire sprinklers save lives and save firefighters‘ lives.”

But the conference didn’t just remember the accomplishments of chiefs past. IAFC President‘s Award recipient Chief Tom Carr, Montgomery County (Md.) Fire & Rescue, “offers us all an example of what can be achieved if we think beyond our own departments,” Westerman said. Another recipient, Chief Michael Freeman (Ret.), Los Angeles Fire Department, “… stood fast in his commitment,” Westermann said. “An example to us all.”

FIRE CHIEF was honored to be part of the general session and to present the 2008 Fire Chief of the Year Awards, sponsored by Pierce Manufacturing. Pierce President Wilson Jones described the company‘s parallel commitment to the fire and emergency service and the dedication of each 2008 award winner.

The 2008 Volunteer Chief of the Year is Chief Michael Lee, Bethany Fire Department, Reidsville, N.C. A former state trooper, Lee joined Bethany Fire more than 20 years ago and also is currently a captain/company commander with Greensboro (N.C.) Fire Department. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina‘s Fire/Rescue Management Institute and is currently attending the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy.

Lee is a quiet, humble leader. During the Chief of the Year dinner, he said that he doesn‘t like to be called “chief” because he‘s “just part of the team” and doesn‘t feel he deserves that honor. Several subsequent speakers at the dinner, including U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade, insisted that Lee deserves the honor of being called “chief.”

The 2008 Career Chief of the Year is Charles L. Werner, Charlottesville (Va.) Fire Department. Werner joined the department in 1978 and worked his way through the ranks to become chief in 2005. Focusing early on for better communications for firefighters, Werner has left no stone unturned or minutes idle in his war for interoperability within the fire and emergency services. Whether teaching, meeting or writing, Werner has fought for better communications on the fireground.

But there‘s another story about Werner. At the Chief of the Year dinner, Werner said he believes in empowering his personnel and his response is frequently, “’why not?’ New ideas can come from any title.”

When one staff member was tasked to find an area for a new fitness room, she responded that the chief‘s first floor office would be the best location. Werner agreed and moved to a smaller office on the second floor. Subsequently, when a firefighter offered to try a new painting technique on the cinder-block wall in the chief‘s office, he said “why not?”

“I now have a Tuscan-style wall in my office,” Werner laughed.

Humble and empowering — it is a year for great fire chiefs.