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IAFC Installs New Leaders For 2010 - 2011 Term
International Association of Fire Chiefs
Fairfax, Va. - The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has installed Chief Jack E. Parow, EFO, CFO, MIFireE, fire chief of Chelmsford Fire Rescue in Massachusetts, as IAFC president and chairman of the board for 2010-2011. The installation took place on August 27 during the IAFC’s Fire-Rescue International (FRI) conference in Chicago.
As president and chairman of the board, Chief Parow will provide leadership to an 18-member board of directors for the association located in Fairfax, Va., and will serve as the primary spokesperson for the association on matters of national and international interest. He will testify on behalf of the IAFC at U.S. House and Senate hearings, and he will serve as the representative dignitary for the association in all major political and international functions.
Chief Parow will continue the IAFC’s work on eminent IAFC and joint-organizational programs and will place particular emphasis on those pertaining to leadership development, firefighter health and safety, and fire and life safety issues.
After his installation at the FRI 2010 general session, Chief Parow told attendees he believes the IAFC “should continue the important work of securing the D block broad band.” He also said that the IAFC “will be here for its members, providing opportunities for them to be better prepared as they rebuild their resources.” He suggested that everyone should, “take advantage of the SAFER and AFG funding that is available.” He also expressed his passion for health and life safety issues, referencing the important work of the Medical Task Force. “It is everyone’s responsibility to live healthy and productive lives,” he said.
Chief Parow is a 33-year veteran of the fire service and an IAFC member since 1991. Chief Parow’s fire service career started in a combination department in North Reading, Mass., in 1975. In 1991, at the rank of captain, he left North Reading to become the fire chief in East Bridgewater, Mass., also a combination department.
In 1994, Chief Parow was offered his current position as fire chief in Chelmsford, a career department operating out of five stations and located on the Route 495 belt outside Boston. Additionally, since 1990, he has led the busiest state hazardous-material team, providing coverage for over 90 communities in the northeastern section of the state.
Active throughout his entire career, Chief Parow has served as president of the New England Division of the IAFC and president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts; he has also served on the IAFC Election Committee, the Membership Task Force and the IAFC International Code Council Regional Committee. He is also a member of the IAFC’s Volunteer & Combination Officers Section, Fire and Life Safety Section, EMS Section, and Safety, Health and Survival Section, as well as the NFPA. In addition, he has been very active at both the state and federal level in moving vital fire service legislation forward, including funding of the Fire Bill.
Chief Parow holds a master’s degree in business and policy studies, a bachelor’s degree in fire and safety engineering and an associate’s degree in fire science, and he’s an EFOP graduate. He also teaches at Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass., in both the graduate and undergraduate Fire Science and Management Program. He still maintains both his state and national certifications as an emergency medical technician.
Chief Parow is very serious when it comes to health and wellness. He is a certified physical trainer and has competed in triathlons and hundreds of road races, including completing five Boston Marathons. A former hockey player, he coaches hockey at North Reading High.
Also installed during the ceremony on August 27 were Chief Al Gillespie, fire chief of the North Las Vegas (Nev.) Fire Department, as the IAFC’s 1st vice president, and Chief Hank Clemmensen of the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District (Ill.) as the IAFC’s 2nd vice president. Fire Chief William Metcalf of the North County Fire Protection District (Calif.) was also sworn in for a second term as treasurer of the IAFC.
About the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
The IAFC represents the leadership of over 1.2 million firefighters and emergency responders. IAFC members are the world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its members to exchange ideas and uncover the latest products and services available to first responders. www.iafc.org
Fairfax, Va. - The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has installed Chief Jack E. Parow, EFO, CFO, MIFireE, fire chief of Chelmsford Fire Rescue in Massachusetts, as IAFC president and chairman of the board for 2010-2011. The installation took place on August 27 during the IAFC’s Fire-Rescue International (FRI) conference in Chicago.
As president and chairman of the board, Chief Parow will provide leadership to an 18-member board of directors for the association located in Fairfax, Va., and will serve as the primary spokesperson for the association on matters of national and international interest. He will testify on behalf of the IAFC at U.S. House and Senate hearings, and he will serve as the representative dignitary for the association in all major political and international functions.
Chief Parow will continue the IAFC’s work on eminent IAFC and joint-organizational programs and will place particular emphasis on those pertaining to leadership development, firefighter health and safety, and fire and life safety issues.
After his installation at the FRI 2010 general session, Chief Parow told attendees he believes the IAFC “should continue the important work of securing the D block broad band.” He also said that the IAFC “will be here for its members, providing opportunities for them to be better prepared as they rebuild their resources.” He suggested that everyone should, “take advantage of the SAFER and AFG funding that is available.” He also expressed his passion for health and life safety issues, referencing the important work of the Medical Task Force. “It is everyone’s responsibility to live healthy and productive lives,” he said.
Chief Parow is a 33-year veteran of the fire service and an IAFC member since 1991. Chief Parow’s fire service career started in a combination department in North Reading, Mass., in 1975. In 1991, at the rank of captain, he left North Reading to become the fire chief in East Bridgewater, Mass., also a combination department.
In 1994, Chief Parow was offered his current position as fire chief in Chelmsford, a career department operating out of five stations and located on the Route 495 belt outside Boston. Additionally, since 1990, he has led the busiest state hazardous-material team, providing coverage for over 90 communities in the northeastern section of the state.
Active throughout his entire career, Chief Parow has served as president of the New England Division of the IAFC and president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts; he has also served on the IAFC Election Committee, the Membership Task Force and the IAFC International Code Council Regional Committee. He is also a member of the IAFC’s Volunteer & Combination Officers Section, Fire and Life Safety Section, EMS Section, and Safety, Health and Survival Section, as well as the NFPA. In addition, he has been very active at both the state and federal level in moving vital fire service legislation forward, including funding of the Fire Bill.
Chief Parow holds a master’s degree in business and policy studies, a bachelor’s degree in fire and safety engineering and an associate’s degree in fire science, and he’s an EFOP graduate. He also teaches at Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass., in both the graduate and undergraduate Fire Science and Management Program. He still maintains both his state and national certifications as an emergency medical technician.
Chief Parow is very serious when it comes to health and wellness. He is a certified physical trainer and has competed in triathlons and hundreds of road races, including completing five Boston Marathons. A former hockey player, he coaches hockey at North Reading High.
Also installed during the ceremony on August 27 were Chief Al Gillespie, fire chief of the North Las Vegas (Nev.) Fire Department, as the IAFC’s 1st vice president, and Chief Hank Clemmensen of the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District (Ill.) as the IAFC’s 2nd vice president. Fire Chief William Metcalf of the North County Fire Protection District (Calif.) was also sworn in for a second term as treasurer of the IAFC.
About the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
The IAFC represents the leadership of over 1.2 million firefighters and emergency responders. IAFC members are the world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its members to exchange ideas and uncover the latest products and services available to first responders. www.iafc.org
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