■ ROSEMARY ROBERTS CLOUD was honored with a groundbreaking ceremony for a new fire station and training facility dedicated in her name by the East Point (GA) Fire Department (EPFD) on March 16. On April 2, 2002, the city of East Point made history by naming Cloud the first black female fire chief in the history of the United States. She was the EPFD chief for 12 years before retiring in 2015. Under her command, she convened teams of firefighters to create and implement public education and fire prevention programs. Cloud’s fire service career spanned 30 years. The Chief Rosemary Roberts Cloud Fire Station & Safety Training Facility is expected to be finished in the winter of 2019.
■ BRYAN BRUMAGEN was named the new chief of the Mason (OH) Fire Department (MFD). Brumagen began his fire service career as an intern with the Loveland-Symmes (OH) Fire Department (LSFD) in 1999. He served as a firefighter/paramedic for LSFD before coming to the City of Mason as a firefighter/paramedic in 2009. In 2012, the MFD promoted Brumagen to the position of lieutenant. In 2014, he was promoted to a deputy chief. He completed studies in emergency medical technology at the University of Cincinnati and has a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in public administration from Ohio State University.
■ MIKE GARCIA was named the new chief of the Laguna Beach (CA) Fire Department (LBFD). Garcia joins the LBFD from the Long Beach (CA) Fire Department, where he served for 28 years. He will take over the role on April 30 from Acting Chief Tom Christopher to become the city’s 19th fire chief. Garcia has more than 32 years of experience in fire service, with 20 years of management experience, with more than eight years as a member of the Long Beach Fire Department command staff, holding positions of assistant chief, deputy chief, and acting chief.
■ C. DAVID JOSEPH was sworn in as the new chief of the New Castle (PA) Fire Department (NCFD). Joseph has been a member of the NCFD for 26 years. He replaces Eric Lee Perry, who resigned as chief on February 22. The NCFD consists of 20 full-time and eight part-time firefighters, plus the chief. Joseph said he hopes to continue some of the programs begun by former NCFD Chief Mark Panella, which include training for the firefighters who work as a team and improvements to the downtown fire station including a workout room for the firefighters.
■ MARK HEINE was named as the new chief for the Rincon Valley (CA) and Windsor (CA) fire districts. He is the former chief of the Novato (CA) Fire Protection District (NFPD). Heine takes over the position from longtime Sonoma County fire services leader Jack Piccinini. He takes over the two fire agencies—representing one of the largest and more populated fire jurisdictions in the county—that are facing long-term budget issues, including an estimated 20-percent budget reduction to Rincon Valley from the Tubbs fire devastation, loss of property tax money, and the need to replace two dilapidated fire stations.
