CAL FIRE: Director Names Tonya Hoover Acting State Fire Marshal

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

CAL FIRE: Director Names Tonya Hoover Acting State Fire Marshal

CAL FIRE Director Del Walters today named Tonya L. Hoover acting State Fire Marshal following current State Fire Marshal Kate Dargan's announcement to retire.

"With over 20 years of experience in the fire service and a commitment to public education and risk mitigation, Tonya is a proven leader," said Chief Walters. "I am confident she will provide a seamless transition in leadership and will play a vital role in shaping the future of fire safety issues in California."

Walters also thanked Dargan, California's first woman state fire marshal and a 30-year CAL FIRE veteran, for her service. "Kate's commitment to the people of this state has been tremendous and I wish her the best in her retirement."

As California's acting state fire marshal, Hoover will oversee the mission of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, which is to protect life and property through the development and application of fire prevention engineering, education and enforcement.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger welcomed the designation and praised Dargan's work to promote fire safety throughout the state. "I look forward to working with Tonya in this leadership role and know that her expertise means California's fire protection needs will continue to be met. I also want to thank Kate for her tremendous work to serve California and protect our safety for more than three decades."

Hoover has served as assistant state fire marshal, a position to which Gov. Schwarzenegger appointed her in September 2007. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with an Associate of Science in Fire Protection Engineering Technology and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Technical Education, Specializing in Fire Protection Engineering Technology and Safety. Hoover went on to earn a Masters Degree in Business Administration/Human Resources from the University of Phoenix. She is currently an Executive Fire Officer candidate at the National Fire Academy.

She serves on several fire service associations including; the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committee as a principal member; the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA); International Fire Chiefs Association Subcommittee; and the California Fire Chiefs Fire Prevention Officers Wildland Urban Interface Committee as an active member and past co-chair. She is also a past president of the California Fire Chiefs' Fire Prevention Officers Section, Northern Division, and the recipient of the Northern California Fire Prevention Officers' Charlie Gray Award for Outstanding Service to NorCal Fire Prevention Officers.

"I am honored to step up and serve the people of California in this new role," said Hoover. "I look forward to working with the Governor and CAL FIRE to continue to educate the public about important fire safety issues."

CAL FIRE is dedicated to the fire protection and stewardship of more than 31 million acres of California. In addition, the department provides emergency services in 36 of the State's 58 counties via contracts with local governments. CAL FIRE firefighters respond to an average of more than 300,000 emergencies and calls for service each year.

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Wednesday, July 1, 2009