Names in the News: August 20, 2023

THOMAS BELL (top), chief of the Greensburg (PA) Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD), and BRIAN FENNESSY (bottom), career chief of the Orange County (CA) Fire Authority (OCFA), were the honorees as the Volunteer Chief and Career Chief, respectively, at the 2023 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year awards.

Bell is a 30-plus-year fire service veteran who revitalized the GVFD’s Junior Firefighter Program; introduced the Red X Program, designed to let firefighters know a building has significant structural or interior hazards; developed mandatory postfire bunker gear laundry services for all responding firefighters; and implemented officer training in sectoring practices, the use of “CAN” reports with interior firefighters, and command benchmarking.

Fennessy has five decades of experience in the fire service and was previously named Fire Chief of the Year by the California Fire Chiefs Association as well as one of the nation’s “Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers” by Government Technology magazine. During the early parts of his career, he worked as a helitack captain and crew superintendent for the U.S. Forest Service. Fennessy has also served as chief for both the San Diego (CA) Fire-Rescue Department and, in the past five years, the OCFA. In addition to his many accomplishments, he pioneered the Quick Reaction Force in partnership with Southern California Edison.

JOHN BUTLER took over as the new president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Butler, the chief of Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue since July 2018, will chair the organization’s board of directors. Previously, he served as chief of the Howard County (MD) Department of Fire and Rescue (HCDFR), where he began working in 1993 as a firefighter-paramedic. With HCDFR, Butler served in a variety of roles, including bastion chief, emergency medical services chief, and administrative chief. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 21 years, including two combat tours.

CHRIS BLACK was named the new chief of the Texarkana (TX) Fire Department (TFD). Black is a 26-year TFD member who had been serving as the department’s interim chief. He started his career with the TFD in 1997 after graduating as the valedictorian of his class at the Kilgore College Fire Academy. In 2003, he was promoted to driver/engineer and earned the rank of captain. In 2007, he was appointed as a deputy fire marshal. The following year, he graduated as valedictorian from the police academy at Kilgore College. In 2010, Black was promoted to fire marshal, and then assistant chief in 2013.

ADAM A. HOUSE was sworn in as the new chief of the Sacramento (CA) Metropolitan Fire District (Metro Fire) on August 10. House is a 36-year veteran of public services, which includes four years in the United States Army as a firefighter. Following active duty, he continued his fire career in 1991 as a firefighter in Yuma, Arizona, eventually being promoted to the rank of captain. In 2000, he joined Metro Fire, ascending the ranks from firefighter; to captain; to battalion chief; and, ultimately, to assistant chief. In addition, he also served as the program manager for Metro Fire’s Type 1 Hazardous Materials program.