Els "fire chief" americans, aquests grans desconeguts

Bayport Fire Department, Memorial Day Parade

" Sí no els veus, no són"

(proverbi de Sildàvia)

No crec que els conegueu de res. Potser algú dubtarà una mica i, a cau d'orella, dirà: "aquesta cara em sona...però no, no sé ben bé de què".

Són gent pacifica i no els hi agrada cridar. Viuen sembrats per comarques regades pel Misissipi, al hinderland novaiorquès, a San Francisco i rodalies, a l'àrea dels grans llacs, allà on l'almirall David Glasgow Farragut va embarcar per primer cop, prop les plantacions de cacahuets de Jimmy Carter, a l'Amèrica profunda (res a veure amb els Monegros). Grans professionals, sortosament però: no excel.lents (la plaga bíblica de l"'excel.lencia" la deixem pels joves pretensiosos de ca nostra).

Són fills de l'ètica i l'estètica dels 50's. Hereus del bagatge cultural dels pastissos de poma de la tieta Nelly. Sobrevivents dels paranys de la maltempsada dels al.lucinògens. Consumidors compulsius de calories disfressades de patates, hamburgueses i gelats: "el meu regne per un ice-cream!". S'embolcallen amb caducs missatges de predicadors, impostors i farsants religiosos -aconseguiran/em superar aquesta fase covarda i egoista de l'home que el fa adulador interessat d'un Déu imaginari i cruel?, algun dia l´home serà persona moral?)

Són - per vosaltres són- perquè jo us dic que són. Són, perquè jo us en dic el nom i us en mostro la faç. Que fràgil és tot, que lleuger i aleatori el fet contingent que el ser i el no ser depengui de mi, de tu, d'altri. Que dur carregar-m'ho tot a les espatlles, com el mític Atles!... Anem venuts i duem les cartes marcades. Crec, sincerament,que algú enganya algú...i no dic res més.

Fire chiefs:Richard Collins, Osccola County Fire Department-Florida

Ricky Nicholson, chief Woodstock Fire Department

Kenneth Jones, Newport (Virginia) Fire Department

Mario H. Treviño, Fire Department
Bellevue, WA 98009

Fire Chief Randy Brasher,
City of Mascotte-Florida

Chief Mike Dyer.
Los Angeles County Fire Department

Chief of Department - Brian Morrissey Brian W. Morrissey serves as Chief of the Department. Chief Morrissey is a native of Cambridge, Massachusetts. He joined Nashua Fire Rescue as a Firefighter in August of 1978; in 1986 he was promoted to Lieutenant followed by Captain in 1991. Chief Morrissey was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2000 and served as shift commander, in 2001 he was promoted to Assistant Chief. In March of 2007 he was promoted to his current position. Chief Morrissey attended Bunker Hill Community College and is a Hazardous Materials Technician. During his career Chief Morrissey held several elected positions in IAFF Local 789 including six terms as President, he also served as an officer in the Firemen’s Relief Association and the New Hampshire State Permanent Firefighters Association. He currently serves as a Trustee on The New Hampshire Retirement System.

Assistant Chief of Department - Keith Anderson Sr. Assistant Chief Keith Anderson was appointed to his position in March of 2007. He is a native of Tewksbury MA and a graduate of Tewksbury High School. Chief Anderson joined Nashua Fire Rescue in September 1977. He worked through the ranks becoming a Lieutenant in 1991 then Captain in 2003.

Deputy Chiefs of Department - Shift Commanders

Deputy Chief Michael B O'Brien Sr Group 1 Shift Commander Michael B O'Brien Sr. serves as a Deputy Fire Chief, he was born in Boston and was raised in Cambridge Massachusetts. He joined Nashua Fire Rescue as a firefighter in January 1981: in 1991 he was promoted Lieutenant followed by Captain in 1996. Deputy O’Brien was promoted to Deputy Fire Chief in 2001 and currently serves as shift commander of Group One: and is the Chief Officer of the Nashua Fire Rescue Dive Team. Deputy O’Brien’s other assignments include preplanning, special operations. He attended Don Bosco Technical High School Boston, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy at Buzzards Bay. During his career Deputy O’Brien served as an elected official in IAFF Local 789 as station steward, and as a member of the Safety Committee. He also held office in the Nashua Firemen’s Relief Association, and is a member of the New Hampshire Fire Chiefs Association. Deputy O'Brien also holds office as a State Representative in the New Hampshire General Court.

Deputy Chief Steven G. Galipeau Group 2 Shift Commander Steven G. Galipeau currently serves Nashua Fire Rescue as a Deputy Fire Chief. Deputy Galipeau is a Nashua native and a second generation firefighter with Nashua Fire Rescue. His dad Wilfred Galipeau served Nashua Fire Rescue as a firefighter from 1958 to 1983. Deputy Galipeau joined the Fire Department in March of 1980. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1996, Captain in 2000, and Deputy Chief in 2007. He is currently the Group 2 Shift Commander. Deputy Galipeau is the fire department’s representative on the LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee), Grants Manager, and a member of the SMART Hazardous Materials Response Team as a certified Hazardous Materials Technician. Deputy Galipeau attended New Hampshire Technical College – Laconia where he earned an Associates Degree in Fire Science, and completed the Rivier College Homeland Security & Emergency / Disaster Management certification.. Deputy Galipeau is also working with Granite State College on a Bachelors Degree in Fire Service Administration.

Deputy Chief Daniel Cronin Group 3 Shift Commander Deputy Chief Daniel Cronin is the Shift Commander of Group 3. Deputy Cronin is a native of Tewksbury Massachusetts. A graduate of Austin Preparatory High School in Reading Ma. He attended North Shore Community College. Appointed to Nashua Fire Rescue in 1977. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1989 and Captain in 2000. In June 2004 he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief. Resides in Nashua with his wife and two children.

Deputy Chief John Allison Group 4 Shift Commander Deputy Chief John Allison is the Shift Commander of Group 4. Appointed to Nashua Fire Rescue in 1971. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1977 and Captain in 1982. In November 1987 he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief.

Rochester Fire Department

Fire Chief - Norm Sanborn, Jr. I started my career in firefighting in 1975 as a member of the Call Force. In July of 1977 I was hired as a full-time firefighter for the City of Rochester. Throughout the past twenty years, I have been a firefighter on shift, a Captain on shift, a Deputy Chief on shift, and Assistant Chief on staff and am presently the Fire Chief. E - Mail @ norm.sanborn@rochesternh.net
	Assistant Fire Chief Richard Giguere I joined the Rochester Fire Department as a callman in 1975 and was assigned to Engine 5. I was hired as a full-time firefighter in May of 1982. I have two Associate degrees in Applied Science in Fire science and Fire Protection. Off duty I like to ski, golf and play volleyball E - Mail @ richard.giguere@rochesternh.net
	Deputy Chief - Fran Zombeck I worked for the Claremont Fire Department from 1977 to 1987. I moved to Rochester in 1987 and started with the Rochester Fire Department in 1988. I was promoted to Captain in 1991 and Deputy Chief in 1997. Third in command of the department. Responsible for the operations of a 40 member call force, Training of both the full-time and call firefighters and building maintenance, equipment testing (pumps, hose, rescue tools, ladders), and assist the Emergency Management Director. E-Mail @ fran.zombeck@rochesternh.net
	Fire Marshal - Mark Dupuis I joined the Rochester Fire Department in 1988 as a Call firefighter on Engine 3 in Gonic, and become a permanent member in 1993. I was promoted to Lieutenant in April of 2005 and then promoted to Deputy Chief / Fire Marshal in June 2008. I have an Associates Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. I am also a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. E-Mail mark.dupuis@rochesternh.net
	Fire Prevention Captain/ Safety Officer - Dominick Bellio I began my career in the fire service 1986 as a member of the call force. In June 1987, I was appointed to C-Shift as a full-time firefighter. I have served as a firefighter on shift and Lieutenant on A-Shift. I am currently the Fire Prevention Captain. E - Mail dominick.bellio@rochesternh.net
	Executive Secretary - Cindi Potts I have worked for the City of Rochester since 1981. I transferred to the Rochester Fire Department in October of 1994. I am the Executive Secretary to the Fire Chief. I am responsible for payroll records, sick & vacation leaves, and the auditing and reconciling the budgeted funds for the department. I assist in preparing the department budget, type correspondences for the Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief and Captains. E - Mail @ cindi.potts@rochesternh.net
	Chaplain Ron Lachapelle

New Windsor (New York) Fire Department

Salvatore Gigante - Chairmain, Board of Fire Commissioners The Board of Fire Commissioners are elected officials that serve five year terms. The Fire Commissioners are responsible for the operational, fiiscal and administration of the Vails Gate Fire District and Fire Department operations.

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Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs

Richard Boyes
Oakville Fire Services
Fire Chief / President, OAFC

Tim Beckett
Kitchener Fire Dept.
Fire Chief / 1st Vice President, OAFC

Bryan Burbidge
Township of King Fire Dept.
Fire Chief / 2nd Vice President, OAFC

Ted Bryan
Otonabee-South Monaghan Fire Dept.
Fire Chief / 3rd Vice President, OAFC

Kevin Foster
Midland Fire Dept
Fire Chief / Treasurer, OAFC

Lee Grant
Oakville Fire Department
Deputy Fire Chief / Past President, OAFC

Timothy G. Bond
Kemptville Fire Department
Fire Chief / Director, OAFC

Warren Brinkman
Kenora Fire & Emergency Services
Fire Chief / Director, OAFC