The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the International Fire Service Training Association/Fire Protection Publications/Oklahoma State University (IFSTA) are proud to announce that Karla Klas is the recipient of the 2024 CFSI/IFSTA Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education. The award recognizes individuals for outstanding achievements at the national level in fire safety education. The award presentation will be on April 29th at the 34th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington, DC.
Klas currently serves as Managing Director of Injury/Violence Prevention at the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center. For more than 30 years, she has made significant contributions at the state and national levels in a broad range of fire and life safety fields, including trauma/burn critical care nursing, injury prevention, and community risk reduction. She has developed many programs in burn and fire prevention, which have reached all 50 states and over 150 countries. And much of her work has involved collaborations with state and national organizations, including the International Association of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation, the National Fire Protection Association, the American Burn Association and Vision 20/20.
“Karla's passion and dedication to fire safety education truly embody the spirit of this award,” said Chief Mary Cameli, Chair of the IFSTA Executive Board. “She is an exceptional leader who has inspired others to follow her lead in advancing fire safety education in the U.S. and in other parts of the world.”
“Like the late-Dr. Anne W. Phillips, Karla Klas has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to fire prevention as the basis for reducing the toll of fire in this country,” said Jim Estepp, President of the Congressional Fire Services Institute. "My fellow board members and I take great pride in recognizing national leaders in fire safety education with this award to give them the recognition they deserve.”
