An Evaluation of Smoke Alarm Installation and Community Risk Reduction Programs in Five U.S. Fire Departments

Joseph Walters

Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshall (OSFM)
Executive Officer

Joe Walters is the Executive Officer for the State Fire Marshal, with the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal (OSFM). As the first “Executive Officer ” Joe has been integral in moving the OSFM into the 21st century, from technology advancements, fleet refreshments, equipment needs to health and wellness awareness. Since 2016, he has also led a part in the agencies community risk reduction programs. He has been proactive in fire prevention programs throughout the State and has assisted with the dissemination of important fire & life saving information via social media and other platforms. He currently sits on the Mid Atlantic Life Safety Conference Committee as the operations command, trying to enhance the program. By trade he is a fire investigator and worked in the field for several years prior to the appointment of Executive Officer. He worked several high profile cases and made many arson and explosive related arrests. He has had the opportunity to sit in forums such as the Truman Symposiums and the FEMA AFG content development group. On his off time, he is a 20-year veteran of the volunteer fire service where he currently serves in the role of Captain. He has held many roles including Assistant Treasurer and Vice President. He is also an instructor for the National Safe Boating Council and specialize in the maritime rescue discipline. He and his wife own a small custom t-shirt business, which was started just before the birth of their child, in 2015. When not working, he loves sitting on the Chesapeake Bay on his boat or tearing up the mud four wheeling in the woods.

Damien Vinson

Chattanooga Fire Department
Community Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator

Captain Damien Vinson is with the Chattanooga Fire Department and serves as the Community Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Safety and Emergency Management and a Master of Science Degree in Leadership. Along with a career in the fire service Captain Vinson served for 23 years in the United States Army Reserves retiring in 2022.

Jess Sondgeroth

South Carolina State Fire
Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Outreach Program Coordinator

Jessica Sondgeroth is the Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Outreach Program Coordinator with South Carolina State Fire. She also collaborates with leading fire organizations and fire departments through the statewide risk reduction program, Fire Safe South Carolina. The outreach section supports fire and life safety data analysis, curriculum coordination, and outreach efforts statewide. Specifically, she provides technical and professional support through outreach efforts to establish and sustain the community risk reduction process statewide. In addition to her role on the CRR team, Jessica also serves on the Palmetto Incident Support Team, and the Community Loss Education and Response (CLEAR) Team which researches fire-related fatalities. Jessica was selected to participate in the first national cohort of the Vision 20/20 CRR Emerging Leaders Academy. She presented the Fire Safe South Carolina program at the National Vision 20/20 Model Performance Symposium in Tennessee and was the keynote speaker at the New England Fire and Life Safety Conference in Massachusetts in 2022.

Kim Stouse

Pocatello Fire Department / Bannock County Ambulance District
Community Risk Reduction Specialist

Kim Stouse is the Community Risk Reduction Specialist for the Pocatello Fire Department/Bannock County Ambulance District where she is assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau. She is responsible for the departments of CRR, Education, Outreach, Emergency Preparedness, Youth Firesetting, PIO and assisting with Fire Inspections. She joined the fire service in 2015. Prior to that she was a 911 Dispatcher and Juvenile Probation Officer. She has a Master’s degree in Homeland Security from American Military University, a Bachelors in Sociology from Idaho State University and is a nationally certified EMT. She is a very social person who loves being active in her community. She is the NFPA Education Representative for the State of Idaho, works with various community partners, and sits on several boards that work to address the needs within the community. She also is a member of the Idaho Region 3 All Hazards Incident Management Team. Kim is passionate about CRR and has been working diligently to move her agency towards adoption of the Community Risk Reduction model. When Kim is not at work, she loves to hang out with her amazing husband and 2 incredible and active sons and fur babies (dogs and cats). She loves to travel whenever she gets the opportunity to do so. She is extremely honored to be a part of the Champions and Emerging Leaders (CEL) Group and hopes to not only learn from this amazing team, but to share from her experiences.

Derrick Sawyer

Upper Darby Township PA
Fire Chief

Derrick J. V. Sawyer is a 35-year veteran of the fire service and currently serves as the F re Chief for Upper Darby Township PA. Chief Sawyer served as the 19 th Fire Commissioner of the Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) from June of 2014 to May 2016. He provided leadership for the more than 2,400 members within the department. With a passion for educating the ommunity on the merits of safety and preparedness, he has become a sought-after public speaker and revels in the opportunity to engage the community, as well as public and private sector entities. Retiring from the PFD after 31 years of service, Sawyer served as the Fire Director for Trenton Fire and Emergency Services in Trenton New Jersey. Well versed in the facets of Emergency Response, Chief Sawyer served in every civil service rank within the PFD, as well as every Mayoral appointed position including Deputy Commissioner for both Technical Services and Operations. He’s held staff positions in the Technical Support Unit, headed the Department’s Homeland Security Division and has presented at the 9th Annual Montgomery County Chief Officers Seminar on the importance of information sharing as it relates to preparing for and preventing terrorist attacks. Over the past decade Chief Sawyer has traveled the globe to educate diverse communities on the effectiveness of Community Risk Reduction, and fire & life safety education. Among his most impactful presentations were the 2011 International Safety Seminar in Seoul Korea and the National Fire Protection Association’s Annual Conference. He led the award-winning Fire Prevention Division and because of his hands-on leadership, assisted the Fire Department in reducing the number of fire fatalities in the City of Philadelphia to its lowest rate in recorded history. Chief Sawyer was the 2011 recipient of the T. Seddon Duke Award for Fire Prevention. He served as the Chairperson for the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Urban Fire Safety Taskforce. Additionally, Chief Sawyer has served as a board member for St. Christopher’s foundation for Children, Northwest Victims Services, and the American Red Cross Southeastern PA Chapter. Chief Sawyer has augmented his academic accomplishments by graduating from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute and The Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education for State and Local Government. He has obtained certifications as Fire Officer IV, Fire Instructor II, Fire Inspector, Hazardous Material Technician, and Firefighter II. Sawyer also holds an Associate Degree in Fire Science from Community College of Philadelphia, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Safety Administration from Holy Family University and a Master of Science degree in Homeland Security from Saint Joseph’s University.

Jeff Pender

City of Brentwood (TN)
Fire Marshall

Division Chief Jeff Pender currently serves as the Fire Marshal for the city of Brentwood (TN), and has 26 years of experience in the fire service. Div. Chief Pender has a passion for life safety and Community Risk Reduction and is looking forward to serving with such a great group of people of the CEL Group.

Sylvia Peace

Community Risk Reduction Specialist
Greenville Fire-Rescue

Sylvia R. Peace has been with Greenville Fire-Rescue (TX) since 2013 and is the Community Risk Reduction specialist for her department. Having worked for almost 30 years providing a variety of educational programs to residents of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities across several communities, she now serves the Greenville community providing fire and injury prevention education. Besides working to reduce risk in her community, she also serves on the IFSTA Fire and Life Safety Educator textbook validation committee for the upcoming fourth edition. She also served on the 2020 Edition of the NFPA’s Educational Messages Advisory Committee (EMAC) Desk Reference and served on the coaching team of the Vision 20/20 Symposium 7 Model Performance presenters. Additionally, she is a contract instructor for the National Fire Academy.

Kymberly Pashkowsky

State of Michigan Bureau of Fire Service
Fire Service Training Coordinator and MI Prevention CRR Division Chief

Kymberly Pashkowsky spent over 25 years in the fire, medical, and emergency trauma services. She is currently serving as the Fire Service Training Coordinator and MI Prevention CRR Division Chief for the State of Michigan Bureau of Fire Service. As president and founder of Lead on Solutions, she develops business and fire service leaders through team building, coaching and mentorship. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Administration Leadership. Pashkowsky completed the Michigan Fire Officer I, II and III programs and is a certified Fire Instructor I. Kymberly has been actively involved in many fire service organizations over the years to address emerging issues in emergency services: She has significant experience in Community Risk Reduction as a Technical Advisor with V20/20 to move strategic planning process statewide and nationally towards CRR, Sound Off Super State Advisor, Peer Support Advisor for Behavioral health, NFPA Responder Forum, member to Michigan Joint Fire Service Council with assignments towards Recruitment and Retention, Behavioral Health and Chair of the State Fire Conference “JC5”. Most recently, Kymberly was asked to become a board member of Firefighter Close Calls and heads up the Cardiac Health and Wellness site. Kymberly is a leader in championing diversity for the Volunteer Firefighters and Women Firefighters which is critical for the future of the fire service and has presented and been a keynote speaker at multiple events towards data, CRR, Cardiac Health, strategic planning, harassment/diversity, and inclusion, resiliency, and emotional intelligence in the fire service. Most recently, speaking at the Vision 20/20 conference and Congressional Fire Service (CSFI) in 2022.

Jeremy Mitchell

Champaign, IL Fire Department
Deputy Fire Marshall

Jeremy Mitchell is a 24 year veteran of the fire service and currently serves as Deputy Fire Marshal in the Champaign, IL Fire Department. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and American Military University, and is the author of ‘Fire Prevention in Your Business’ and has contributed to Firehouse and Public Administration magazines. Jeremy serves on the NFPA 1037 Technical Committee and is at work on his next book ‘Unimpeded by Progress: Application of Fire Prevention Programs in the United States’.

Amber Jones

Arvada Fire Department
CRR Specialist

Amber Jones started her career in the fire service 20 years ago with Wheat Ridge Fire Department as a volunteer, where she received her Fire Fighter I & II and Haz-Mat Operations certifications, as well as her EMT-B certification from Red Rocks Community College. She joined Arvada Fire in 2006 as a Communications Specialist in the 911 dispatch center and promoted to a shift lead. In 2015 Amber transitioned to the Community Risk Reduction division and currently works as a CRR Specialist. She has received her FLSE I, FLSE II, YFPI, Inspector I, and Instructor I certifications and has attended numerous NFA courses. Amber has a passion for helping and teaching older adults stay independent through fall prevention, resource navigation, and home safety visits. She is a third-generation member of the Arvada Fire Department. Her father and grandfather were both volunteers and she was raised around the fire stations. Amber’s ties to her community continue today, as she lives and works in Arvada. Amber enjoys the outdoors, staying active, meeting new people, helping those in need, and is currently working towards a blackbelt in karate with her son.

Anthony Flynn

Northern Indiana Safety Educators Association (NISEA)
Co-Founder & Chairman

Anthony Flynn has served as a firefighter/paramedic and community risk reduction specialist with Crown Point (IN) Fire-Rescue since 2016. In addition, Anthony serves as the co-founder and chairman for Northern Indiana Safety Educators Association (NISEA). Anthony has an unwavering goal of bringing Community Risk Reduction to the forefront of the Northwest Indiana fire Service and was most recently named “Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year” in the State of Indiana. Anthony has resided in “The Region” for 28 years. Anthony is married to his wife Karly and has a son Bentley, infant daughter Ella, and two German Shepherds Linus and Lucy.

Ashby Green

Louisville Fire Department
Deputy Fire Marshall

Sgt. Ashby Green is a Deputy Fire Marshal at Louisville Fire Department, where her area of jurisdiction sees the highest frequency of building fires in Kentucky. Ashby balances that responsibility with specializing in Fire & Life Safety Education – she is the Kentucky Sound Off State Team Leader, founder and Chief of Lesley Prather Empowerment Camp, and member of NFPA Remembering When Advisory Committee. Ashby’s involvement with Vision 20/20 includes being the Kentucky SCEF delegate and Symposium 7 Minnow Tank participant.

Daniel Isenhour

Albemarle Fire Department
Fire Captain

Daniel is currently a Fire Captain on an engine company with the Albemarle Fire Department in North Carolina. He has worked for Albemarle for 15 years and has been involved in the fire service for 24 years. He currently assists with Albemarle FD’s fire and life safety and community risk reduction efforts. He oversees the smoke alarm program, orders and maintain fire prevention materials, and assists with events. He does what he can to stay connected at a state and local level. He participates in several state fire and life safety groups and has the pleasure of serving as the Fire Facilitator for Stanly County Safe Kids coalition. As an active member of the Safe Kids coalition, he assists in getting fire departments throughout the county involved in Safe Kid events, actively assists with car sear checks, diversion program, and assists with safety messaging at events, in schools and in daycares.

Esther Hernandez

Washington State Patrol – State Fire Marshall’s Office
Deputy State Fire Marshall

Esther Hernandez is a Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal with the Washington State Patrol – State Fire Marshal’s Office. She has been with WSP for 20 years; the last 17 years in the SFMO. As the supervisor for the Education, Enforcement, and Analytics Section within the SFMO, she is responsible to direct, plan, and provide management oversight of the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing and Certification Program, the Fireworks Licensing Program, the Fire Safe Cigarette Certification Program, the National Fire Incident Reporting System Program, Community Risk Reduction, and division Public Information. She has a degree in business from the University of Southern California. Fight on! On a personal note, her home life includes two felines that rule her life – Coco and Bean. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, and drinking coffee.

Katie Harrington

Worcester Fire Department
Fire Lieutenant

Katie Harrington, Esq. is a Fire Lieutenant for the City of Worcester, MA. She has been with the Worcester Fire Department for over 20 years. She has spent time in suppression, training, investigations and fire prevention before transferring to the Public Education/Community Risk Reduction Unit. Katie has received many certifications in the fire service including FF I/II, Fire Instructor I/II, IAAI-FIT, Fire Officer I, Fire Prevention Officer I/II, Student Awareness of Fire Education, and YFPI Training. Katie educates adults throughout Worcester in Fire and Fall Safety and children in the schools about fire prevention and safety. She is the Fire Department Representative in Hub-Cor, Community Representative for Head-start Preschool Program, and the partner with The Red Cross for the smoke alarm installation program. She is also on the task force for the Senior Support Team and the MA Fire and Life Safety Education. She also teaches peers at the Massachusetts Fire Academy in areas of prevention, education, fire officer, instructor, and EMS. She also has taught for the National Fire Academy. Katie has been a part of many grants on both the State and Federal levels. Katie’s partnerships continue on a daily basis with work being done in the community. When not working, Katie can be found at the horse barn, sports complex, or dance competitions with her 5 children.

Nathan Estrada

Nymbl Science
VP of Clinical

Dr. Nathan Estrada is the VP of Clinical for Nymbl Science and a subject matter expert on older adult balance training and fall prevention. He is a physical therapist by training receiving his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Colorado Denver Health Science Center, where he also received the Hubert J. Levy Humanitarian Award in 2007. Professionally, he has worked in outpatient orthopedics, sports medicine, and home health, where he discovered a passion for empowering older adults to participate more fully in life. He was the program manager for Senior Living at Bayada Home, where he focused on older adult population health. Dr. Estrada believes we have bought into the lie that aging is less and that health decline is somehow a normal expectation of aging. He is validating that empowerment will always yield better results than fear and that healthcare should be fun. He believes we can better meet older adults’ needs by combining human connection with technology to impact results at a population level. His primary mission is to bring lasting solutions to older adults to meet the greatest anxiety points of aging, beginning with falls.

Rachel Hale

Roanoke Fire-EMS
CRR Specialist and Public Information Officer

Rachel Hale currently serves as the Community Risk Reduction Specialist and Public Information Officer for Roanoke Fire-EMS, in Roanoke, VA. Before beginning a career with the fire service, she worked in education and the nonprofit sector. She is very passionate about serving her community, and spends her time plawking (look it up!), volunteering as an advocate for local neighborhood groups, and being the full-time foster mom for her department’s new Fire Station Foster program, which brings shelter dogs to visit fire stations and helps them find forever homes. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology from Oregon State University, and expects to be awarded a Master of Arts in Teaching from Hollins University in the fall of 2023. She enjoys traveling, live music, and spending time with her husband, Chris, a firefighter with the same department, and two sons, Malachi and River.

Mark Norford

Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety
Fire Inspector / Public Educator

Mark Norford is a Fire Inspector/Public Educator with the Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety. He has been working for the last five years to bring awareness to the problem of home oxygen fires and encourage the installation of thermal fuses within the State of Wyoming and Nationally. Before working with the state, he worked for Cheyenne Fire and Rescue for nineteen years, serving in all aspects of the fire service. He retired as Division Chief of Training but previously held positions as the Division Chief of Prevention, Fire Inspector, Public Information Officer, Engineer, EMS Instructor, Paramedic, HAZMAT, and Technical Rescue. In addition, he has worked in prehospital EMS services and Emergency Departments for over twenty years. And he is constantly seeking new challenges and ways to serve the community.

An Evaluation of Smoke Alarm Installation and Community Risk Reduction Programs in Five U.S. Fire Departments

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