Markel Named NFFF Board Chairman as Compton Retires
Troy Markel was unanimously elected as chairman of the board of directors for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). Markel succeeds Chief Dennis Compton, who announced his retirement in August.
Markel first joined the NFFF as an advisory committee member in 2006, becoming a member of the board in 2012. He most recently served as the board secretary and the chair of the Finance and Fundraising Committee. Markel is also a former board member of the First Responder Center for Excellence, an affiliate organization of the NFFF.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to pass my leadership responsibilities along to such a capable and dedicated member of the board,” said Compton. “As a cherished member of the fire service and a talented executive, Troy has a proven record of commitment to the foundation and service to America’s fallen firefighters and their families.”
Markel is the president of VFIS, a subsidiary of Glatfelter Insurance Group. He joined VFIS in 1990 as a Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) sales executive. Shortly afterwards, he quickly learned each of the programs within VFIS, including the property & casualty and accident & sickness programs. In 1998, he became a regional vice president. His responsibilities included managing 29 states within the VFIS program aimed at insuring and providing risk management solutions for emergency service organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
“I am honored to be selected as the board chairman and humbled by the confidence placed upon me by my fellow board members,” said Markel. “I want to thank Chief Compton for his many years of dedicated leadership and all he’s done in service to the organization.”
Compton has been a member of the board of directors for 14 years and serves as chairman for more than 11 of those years.
Under Compton’s leadership the NFFF has seen unprecedented growth in programs for firefighter families, a deeper involvement in the reduction of firefighter line-of-duty deaths, and the overall professionalism and stature of the organization.
“I have depended on Denny’s counsel and friendship in leading this organization for over a decade,” said Chief Ron Siarnicki, NFFF executive director. “Though he is leaving the organization, the legacy he leaves will have a longstanding impact on the organization for generations.”
For more information on the NFFF, visit firehero.org.
First Recipients Announced for MSA’s 2019 Globe Gear Giveaway
MSA, DuPont, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have teamed up again to help volunteer fire departments obtain much-needed gear through MSA’s Globe Gear Giveaway. This annual program began in 2012 and has provided 255 sets of gear to 45 departments to date. In 2019, another 13 departments will each receive four new sets of gear. The first 500 applicants also received a one-year NVFC membership, courtesy of MSA.
The first two recipients of the MSA’s 2019 Globe Gear Giveaway are the Aguila, AZ, Volunteer Fire Department and Jacobstown, NJ, Fire Company.
The Aguila Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) is a small, rural department located in the Arizona desert. The department is called upon to handle many, if not all, emergencies that arise in the area. It is the only protection for fire suppression, EMS, hazmat and wildland fires and responds to small aircraft and railroad incidents. The department is also responsible for two smaller surrounding communities with mutual aid approximately an hour away. Four women and nine men make up AVFD’s 13-person crew. However, the department only has 12 sets of gear available—all of which are more than 10 years old and not compliant with recommended safety standards. The department is unable to afford new gear for its members due to budget constraints.
“Safety is our number one priority,” said Assistant Fire Chief Roger Zdrojewski. “Our volunteers need to be prepared and ready for any hazards that may arise in the district. To do this means decent, safe and compliant turnout gear. The addition of four new sets will help immensely in keeping our firefighters safe and able to help our community to the best of their ability.”
The Jacobstown Volunteer Fire Company is the primary fire department in North Hanover Township, NJ. It serves a population of 7,500 people over 17 square miles and responds to approximately 200 calls each year. Recent community outreach has helped the department’s recruitment efforts, and membership is at record-breaking numbers. Responders are currently required to complete Firefighter I to operate as interior firefighter. The local fire academy recently added Firefighter II, so members are now encouraged to pursue Firefighter II training and certification, which will become a requirement in the near future. Many of its members also cross over between fire and EMS, providing a consistent, high level of service for residents.
The company has 35 sets of gear for its 27 firefighters; however, all but three of those sets will be over 10 years old within the coming year and out of compliance according to national standards.
“This turnout gear will help provide the highest level of protection to our members working on interior fires,” said Deputy Chief Robert Gancarz. “New members often receive the oldest gear and gear that is not fit specifically to them. While necessary due to budgetary and equipment restraints, this is not best practice. More times than not members continue to use this older and often well-worn gear after training is complete. This period may last years until the budget is able to support new gear purchases.”
Additional MSA Globe Gear Giveaway awards will be made monthly throughout 2019. For more information, visit msasafety.com/globe.
IAFC Presents Fire Chief of the Year Awards
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), in partnership with Pierce Manufacturing, has announced the winners of the 2019 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year awards. Volunteer Fire Chief, John Morrison, of the Vienna, VA, Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), and career Fire Chief, James Clack, of the Ankeny, IA, Fire Department, are this year’s honorees.
Each year since 1996, the prestigious Fire Chief of the Year award has recognized one volunteer and one career fire chief. A selection committee appointed by the IAFC reviewed nominations for active chiefs of departments that have shown exemplary contributions in the areas of leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, public service and contributions to the fire service. The annual “IAFC Fire Chief of the Year” awards were presented during the general session at Fire-Rescue International in Atlanta.
“We enjoy every opportunity to recognize the brave men and women in the fire service, and as the sponsor of the annual IAFC Fire Chief of the Year Awards, we look forward to the time each year when we announce the honorees,” said Jim Johnson, president of Pierce Manufacturing. “Chief Morrison and Chief Clack are exemplary leaders who embrace their work with professionalism, tenacity, compassion, and an ability to inspire others. On behalf of the Pierce Manufacturing team, I’d like to share our appreciation for their work, as well as extend a warm congratulations to Chiefs Morrison and Clack.”
Morrison began volunteering with the Vienna VFD at the age of 16 and quickly became an emergency medical technician (EMT). Over the last 23 years, he has held a solid vision for the department, as well as employed remarkable leadership skills, to build the admirable community-based organization the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department is today. Throughout his years of service, a commitment to volunteerism and his community propelled Morrison up the ranks from EMT, to firefighter in 2002, and on to his current role as volunteer chief, which he began nearly a decade ago in 2010. As chief, he oversees the operations and training of more than 60 volunteers. His ability to build relationships and work with both volunteer members and career staff assigned to the Vienna VFD has allowed his department to increase operational and training hours by 44 percent over 10 years.
Clack’s distinguished career in the fire service began more than 33 years ago. Starting in 1986 as a rookie firefighter at Station 6 in downtown Minneapolis and moving up the ranks over the course of the next 20 years, Clack was able to demonstrate excellent leadership abilities. This led to his appointment as fire chief with Minnesota’s largest fire department in 2006. A few years later, as an executive fire officer, he became the first fire chief appointed from outside the fire department in the history of Baltimore City, MD. Most recently, taking on an entirely different challenge, Clack was sworn in as chief of the Ankeny Fire Department in 2014, a suburban community that is considered to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.
In addition to his commitment to fire service, Clack has embodied servant leadership and a passion for mentorship as an Army veteran, a volunteer animal rescue pilot and a Catholic Deacon. While serving as chief in Baltimore, he re-established a non-profit foundation to financially help firefighters and their families who are hurt in the line of duty. Based on his many accomplishments in the fire service, he was named an “Outstanding Alumni” at the University of Minnesota-Crookston in 2010. His caring and compassionate personality extends to how he manages his personnel. All department members are taught “Chief Clack’s Leadership Values”—concepts that have proven to contribute to organizational success.
For more information about the accomplishments of Morrison and Clack, and the Fire Chief of the Year Awards in general, visit iafc.org.
Line-of-Duty Deaths
5 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Three deaths were health-related, one occurred during wildland operations and one death was the result of injuries sustained during an explosion. This edition of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters.
CHIEF WILLIAM “CASEY” WHITE, 70, of the Sun County Volunteer Fire department in Artesia, NM, died on July 2. On July 1, White responded to a grass fire mutual aid call to a neighboring county at approximately 9:30 p.m. After returning from the call, he retired for the evening at home around midnight. The next day, he returned to the station at 9:30 a.m. to outfit a new apparatus with equipment. White was found deceased at approximately 5:30 p.m. that afternoon on the bay floor near the apparatus.
WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER, ANGELA “NICOLE” CHADWICK-HAWKINS, 45, of the U.S. Army Environmental Division/Wildland Fire Program, died on May 22. Fort Jackson Environmental Division personnel initiated a 424-acre prescribed fire operation for wildlife habitat improvements and fuel management. During the prescribed burn, Chadwick-Hawkins, who was a wildlife biologist and certified wildland firefighter, was assigned a ground ignition operation. At some point while conducting her assigned duties, personnel lost radio contact with Hawkins. A search of her last known location was conducted during which her body was found. Upon arrival, emergency personnel determined that Hawkins sustained fatal injuries and was declared deceased by medical personnel. Additional details are pending the completion of investigative processes by the Army Criminal Investigation Division with support and assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as well as the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center Accident Investigation Team.
LT. NEIL B. COPE, 46, of the North Belle Vernon, PA, Volunteer Fire Department, died on July 16. Cope was dispatched to assist on a mutual aid residential fire and was part of the engine crew assigned to staging in full PPE and SCBA with masks doffed. After approximately 45 minutes, the crew was released by command and cleared the scene. After returning to his residence, Cope spoke to his wife via phone. His wife then attempted to call him multiple times during the day without success. When she returned home, she found him not breathing and cold to the touch on the floor of the bedroom. EMS was called and Cope was pronounced deceased at home. The cause and nature of death are under investigation.
DRIVER/OPERATOR JEFF STROBLE, 46, of the City of Roswell, NM, Fire Department, died on July 12. On June 5, the City of Roswell Fire Department was preparing for the community July 4th fireworks show. Stroble was assisting with this preparation when an explosion occurred, injuring him. He was immediately taken to the hospital but eventually passed away from the injuries he sustained in the explosion.
FIREFIGHTER YAROSLAV KATKOV, 29, of CAL FIRE, died on July 29. Katkov was on a training hike with his crew in San Diego County when he suffered a medical emergency. He was immediately flown to Temecula Valley Hospital in Riverside County where he passed away the next day.
