LAMORINDA WEEKLY | ConFire's Carman named fire chief of the year


Jeff Carman Lamo archive

The California Fire Chiefs Association named Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Chief Jeff Carman as its 2018 statewide fire chief of the year at its annual conference in Sacramento. The Ronny Jack Coleman award is named after retired State Fire Marshal Ronny Coleman and recognized Carman as a role model for all fire chiefs in the state as demonstrated through his leadership and management, not only with ConFire but also regionally and statewide.

"We are so proud that Chief Carman has been recognized for his achievements," said Karen Mitchoff, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. "We are fortunate to have him serve our community, and congratulate him and those who support him on this special recognition from his peers." The county board of supervisors, which doubles as the ConFire board of directors, recognized Carman during its Oct. 9 meeting.

Jeff Meston, president of the fire chiefs association and fire chief of the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department, specifically praised Carman's efforts in securing state funding for prepositioning of local strike teams and for the formation of the Alliance, the partnership between ConFire and American Medical Response to deliver emergency medical service to the bulk of Contra Costa County. "Agencies all over the state are watching the progress of that EMS model," said Meston, who also noted that 22 different local strike teams had been prepositioned throughout the state by mid-October thanks in large part to Carman's efforts. Fire resources have been prepositioned four times throughout Contra Costa County in response to red flag warnings this fire season.

"It was quite a surprise," Carman told his Advisory Fire Commission Oct. 8 of the award. "I haven't done anything on my own, but it's been a team effort. And I hope that we can continue that effort. I accept that award on behalf of the whole organization."