Names in the News

>> Former New Britain (CT) Fire Department (NBFD) Chief MARK CARR died at the age of 50 following surgery. Carr was chief safety officer at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration as well as chief of the NBFD for more than seven years. Carr came to the NBFD from the London (England) Fire Brigade, where he’d served as a borough commander and was the highest-ranking black officer in London’s fire department at the time. During Carr’s time in New Britain, the department got grants for new safety equipment and trucks and undertook a series of community service initiatives.

>> ROBIN PAULSGROVE became the new chief of the Denton (TX) Fire Department (DFD) on October 13. Paulsgrove is a 40-year public service veteran and most recently served as chief and director of emergency management for the City of Arlington from 1997-2010. He has also served as chief for the Austin (TX) Fire Department, where he began his career in 1976 before taking its top job in 1993. Paulsgrove will replace former DFD Chief Ross Chadwick, who held the position for 19 years and chose to step down to pursue other goals in early June.

>> CHRISTOPHER VAN LOO became the new chief of the Saginaw (MI) Fire Department (SFD) on August 22. Van Loo had been serving as acting chief since September 2013. The SFD had been without permanent leadership since Chief E. Dean Holland retired in September 2011. Van Loo has been a SFD firefighter since 1990, during which time he has served as chauffeur, engineer, fire inspector, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, and acting fire chief. He has received numerous commendations during his tenure including the Chief’s Special Recognition award, four unit citations, a Distinguished Service award, and a Meritorious Service award. Van Loo was also named the 2012 SFD firefighter of the year.