>> Los Angeles County (CA) Fire Department Chief P. MICHAEL FREEMAN announced his retirement effective March 2010, after almost 21 years of service. Freeman was hired by the board of supervisors in 1989 to serve as the department’s eighth fire chief. He is the second-longest serving chief since Spence Turner, who served for 27 years from 1925 to 1952. Freeman is credited with advancing many life safety and fire suppression services provided by the agency. www.fire.lacounty.gov.
>> The NATIONAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COUNCIL (NVFC) presented its 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award to FRED G. ALLINSON. Allinson served six years as NVFC chairman and 39 years as a volunteer firefighter, 30 of those at King County (WA) Fire District 2, where he rose to the rank of battalion chief. Allinson also served as battalion chief at North Highline (WA) Fire District, where he ran its volunteer program. He served as the Washington State Fire Fighters Association (WSFFA) president from 1973 to 1983 and was its conference coordinator for 17 years. Allinson was also a member of the World Federation of Volunteer Firefighters Association and on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Board. The award is sponsored by Scott Health and Safety. www.nvfc.org. www.scotthealthsafety.com.
>> The UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION’s CHUCK BURKELL received the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS’ President’s Recognition Award. Burkell is a training specialist with the National Fire Academy, responsible for the Executive Development curriculum, the Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP), the EFOP Applied Research Project process, and the Harvard Fellowship Program. www.usfa.dhs.gov. www.iafc.org.
