STEVE AUSTIN

A firefighter went home today November 30, 2001. Ken Burris, the Chief Operating Officer of the United States Fire Administration moves to Atlanta and back to his Georgia roots having been appointed the Director of FEMA Region IV. Burris earned his position as one of the most powerful members of the FEMA senior staff.

Since moving to Emmitsburg he quickly became the single most influential member of the fire service in all the Federal Government. As the result of his unbelievable work ethic coupled with intelligence and a good dose of common sense, Ken Burris is, unmistakably, the most respected fire service leader in this country today.

Chief Burris never bullied his way to the top. He is a firefighter's firefighter. Ken is as comfortable in the White House as he is in the back room of the fire house. A firefighter doesn't have to be reminded where he came from. His roots are in the fire service. Since becoming a leader he has represented his brothers and sisters with the highest degree of ethics and an enthusiasm. He will support firefighters at a congressional hearing with the same tenacity as he backed members of his own department when he was on a hose line making an interior attack. To Burris there is no difference. He is like most firefighters, after family comes the fire service. It is in his blood.

Burris was hired by the Clinton Administration in response to the many problems at the USFA. He is the former Chief of the Marietta Georgia Fire Department outside Atlanta. He held senior leadership positions in the Southeastern Fire Chiefs and the IAFC as Treasurer.

After coming to power in January of this year, Joe Allbaugh President Bush's FEMA Director, quickly identified Burris' considerable talents watching him handle the Fire Grant Program while implementing meaningful change at the USFA. His impact in both areas cannot be minimized. He was the right person at the right place at the right time. He delivered. Washington fire service insiders did not wish to see him leave even though the appointment to Regional Director is a great opportunity for Ken and Region IV.

During the height of the California electric calamity there was talk of Burris heading up FEMA's crisis team in the event of a major black-out, a signal that the Chief had quickly gained the confidence of his boss and the President.

FEMA Regional Directors are almost always political appointments. In the case of Burris, the White House made an exception to persuade Burris to take the Region IV Director job. He retains his "apolitical" Senior Executive status with FEMA while he fills a slot normally used for political patronage. An appointment like Ken's only happens in rare instances.

The new responsibility is daunting. Hurricane exposure in Florida and the gulf coast can trip up bureaucrats and paralyze a poorly managed FEMA creating significant political problems. A delayed federal response after Hurricane Andrew is credited with helping defeat President George Bush in 1992. Joe Allbaugh who ran this Bush's successful election doesn't want to take a chance on repeating that debacle the next time a storm hits the Southeast. Allbaugh has confidence in Burris as his field general in a political hot spot and possibly more important, to provide wise counsel. So much so, that Ken's advice was actively sought in the President's decision to appoint Chief David Paulison as the new Fire Administrator.

What's the future for Chief Burris? Unfortunately his mother who resides in the Atlanta area is ill. That "family first" commitment will occupy much of his free time. He will remain very accessible to the fire service and very much connected to Washington. Don't be surprised if Regional Director Burris doesn't return to FEMA Headquarters in the future at even a higher position.

The Fire Service owes much to Ken Burris. He would say it is the other way around. That's because he never considered himself as the important government official his title reflects. He will tell you he is just proud to be a firefighter.