Type of Organization

Combination Fire Rescue Department

Job Function

Battalion Chief / Division Chief, Firefighter / EMT-Basic

Years in Fire/EMS:

28

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Shawnee Heights Fire District

Years With Department/Agency

20

Dept. Web Site:

http://shfd.us

Web Site:

http://kansasspeedway.com

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Miller Place Fire Department, Miller Place, New York

My Training:

FF-1, FF-2, EMT, Instructor-1, Inspector-1, PADI Diver / Rescue Diver, Ice Rescue, HazMat Awareness, Safety Officer, EVOC, Advanced Pumps, Aerial Ops.

About Me:

I am a Battalion Chief with the Shawnee Heights Fire District with over 20 years of service to the district and 28 years total fire service. I am also the Secretary for the State Capitol Area FIre Fighters Association (SCAFFA) which hosts its annual fire school every spring in Topeka, Kansas. In my spare time I serve as a firefighter with Kansas Speedway FIre & Rescue which hosts races for NASCAR, ARCA, IRL, etc. On any given race day you can find me patroling the outside of the track responding to emergent calls and providing customer service to Kansas Speedway customers.

I have been married for over 25 years to a very patient woman named Kathy. I have two (2) children, Kimberly (21) and Brad (17). Kimberly attended Baker University and just graduated May 2008. She will be continung with her education towards her masters and has been accepted to Oxford University in England.

My son Brad is a junior at Shawnee Heights High School where he is a member of the Thundercussion Drumline. He has found himself a great job for a kid and is learning the finacial ropes.

Day Job:

Full-Time firefighter / Battalion Chief

Relationship Status:

Married

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

I started out in 1975 a a Junior FIrefighter with the Miller Place Fire Department in Miller Place New York. This was a small rural department as New York goes (apporoximately 28 sq miles) but a densly populated area .

Why I Love Fire/EMS

I guess my love for the fire service took hold when I was about 12 back in Hicksville, NY where a friend of mines father was a volunteer. Have been involved ever since...

Top Issues Facing Responders:

Live fire training and the inability to do live burns as in the past due to EPA restrictions.