DHS: Obama Nominate's Kelvin Cochran as new U.S. Fire Administrator

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

DHS: Obama Nominate's Kelvin Cochran as new U.S. Fire Administrator

Secretary Napolitano Applauds President Obama's Intent to Nominate Kelvin Cochran as U.S. Fire Administrator

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano applauds President Obama’s intent to nominate Kelvin Cochran— who brings decades of experience in preventing and responding to fires and emergencies—as U.S. Fire Administrator.

“Kelvin will play a vital role in strengthening our fire prevention and emergency management capabilities across the country,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Working closely with our state and local partners, Kelvin will lead our nationwide efforts to prepare for and respond to fire emergencies.”

As U.S. Fire Administrator, Cochran is charged with overseeing, coordinating, and directing national efforts to prevent fires and improve fire response. Cochran will oversee fire prevention and safety education programs and professional development opportunities for emergency responders at all levels of government.

Kelvin Cochran

Cochran has twenty-eight years of experience in the fire service including fire fighting, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, public education, research and development, personnel management, and administration, with a specialization in training and strategic planning.

Most recently, Cochran served as Fire Chief for the City of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, where he coordinated homeland security and emergency preparedness initiatives between the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (AFCEMA) and oversaw 35 fire stations providing fire, rescue and emergency medical services.

Previously, he served in the Shreveport, La. fire department as a Firefighter, Assistant Chief Training Officer, and Fire Chief. Cochran also served as President of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, the 1st Vice President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and Vice Chairman of Volunteers of America (VOA).

No comments:

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

Tuesday, July 7, 2009