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JIM ROMAN JR. received the FDIC International 2019 Volunteer of the Year Award for his service to the conference. He is a third-generation firefighter and a 14-year student of the fire service and has spent the past five years with the Houston (TX) Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire protection administration from Eastern Kentucky University. He began attending FDIC International as a volunteer staff member in 2010 and has attended every year since. Conference Director Diane Rothschild (pictured) gave Roman the award. |
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DERIK MINARD was appointed as the new chief of the Savannah (GA) Fire Department. Minard was previously the deputy chief of operations for the Westminster (CO) Fire Department (WFD). Minard’s experience includes 21 years of operational expertise in roles including battalion chief, emergency medical services chief, captain, and lieutenant. He was a part of the WFD’s executive team and the city’s management team that developed and implemented the strategic plan and vision for the organization. Minard also worked in an administrative capacity for three years in fire prevention as a fire plans examiner and fire investigator and also helped the department focus on community risk reduction. |
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LAMAR COLCLOUGH was named the first African-American battalion chief in the 204-year history of the Paterson (NJ) Fire Department (PFD). A Paterson native and military veteran of Desert Storm, he said that, despite growing up close to a firehouse, he never thought about becoming a firefighter, but the department’s community outreach helped him take the job. Two deputy chiefs, seven captains, and three other battalion chiefs were also promoted during the ceremony. |
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KYLE MCAFEE took over as the new chief of the Selma (TX) Fire Department (SFD) on April 29, 2019. McAfee, an assistant chief for the past seven years and a battalion chief for the previous five years, spent the past 18 months as assistant chief with the Schertz (TX) Fire Department. McAfee replaces previous SFD Chief Ric Braun, who retired late last fall. McAfee is certified as a firefighter paramedic, a master firefighter, a master inspector, and a master arson investigator. He also received the International Association of Fire Chiefs Award for Fire Service Excellence in 2008 with North Richland Hills. |
Company/Association News
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAFETY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (FDSOA) introduced the three winners of its Safety Forum Scholarship at the 2019 Safety Forum. The winners were Lindsay C. Judah, Orlando, Florida; Jeanette Kehoe, training and safety officer, Golden (CO) Fire Department; and Travis M. Williams, safety chief, Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Scholarship was created and initially funded by Dave Dodson—fire service author, lecturer, and trainer—to create a way to introduce new safety officers to the educational opportunities at the FDSOA Safety Forum. Criteria for the scholarship application included current uniformed member with a minimum two years’ experience in a fire or emergency services organization and never attended an FDSOA Safety Forum in the past or in the past five years. www.fdsoa.org.
DUPONT SAFETY & CONSTRUCTION donated more than $80,000 as part of its donor partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) through the Innovating to Protect, Donating to Honor campaign. Running October 2017 through December 2018, the donation was the result of the sales of thermal liners made with DuPont™ Nomex® Nano and hoods sold with Nomex® Nano Flex by authorized licensees. DuPont™ Nomex® Nano and Nomex® Nano Flex are designed for use in flame-resistant apparel to address the threat of heat stress and to help reduce the weight and bulk of current turnout gear systems, helping provide firefighters with increased mobility for reduced heat stress. www.nomex.com/nfff. www.dow-dupont.com.
Streamlight®, Inc. donated $20,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), including $10,000 in proceeds from sales of the company’s specially marked NFFF Red Nano Light®, Red Vantage® helmet light, and Red Siege® AA lantern. The company also contributed $10,000 for renewal of its “Bronze Helmet” NFFF sponsorship. Both donations will assist NFFF in commemorating the lives of firefighters who have died in the line of duty and supporting their families and co-workers. Streamlight’s sponsorship helps fund various initiatives, including the organization’s National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend tribute to fallen heroes, to be held at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD, October 5-6, 2019. firehero.org. streamlight.com.
