NYSAFC 2014 "New York State Fire Chief of the Year Award" Recipients Named

NYSAFC is pleased to announce the 2014 recipients of its "New York State Fire Chief of the Year Awards." Chief James P. Maxwell (City of Batavia Fire Department) was named 2014 "New York State Career Chief of the Year" and Ex-Chief Christopher O’Brien (Bellmore Fire Department) was named 2014 "New York State Volunteer Chief of the Year."

Awards were presented during the General Session of the NYSAFC 108th Annual Conference & FIRE 2014 Expo on June 12, 2014, at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, N.Y.

NYSAFC’s "Chief of the Year Award" honorees are selected for demonstrating exemplary leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, service to the public, and contributions to the fire service as a whole.

Jim Maxwell is a 36-year veteran of the fire service, serving the city of Batavia as fire chief and emergency manager since 2010. He previously served as a battalion chief with Kodak Park Fire Department and as a chief officer with several combination career/volunteer fire departments in western New York. Maxwell also served as a regional coordinator for the New York State Department of Health and a public health emergency preparedness specialist with the Monroe County Department of Health.

Maxwell was nominated for his role as lead author of a white paper sponsored by the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs/Career Chiefs Section. The white paper, entitled Duties and Responsibilities of a Fire Chief, provides much needed guidance, covering a wide range of topics, for a new fire chief. With the ever-growing complexities associated with the duties of the modern fire chief, this document provides critical real world guidance from current and former fire service leaders that assists in succession planning for current and aspiring fire chiefs.

"Chief Maxwell is an exemplary leader that has always been focused on putting needs of the city of Batavia residents above all else. He is forever committed to making the Batavia Fire Department the best it can be, and continues to dedicate himself to the men and women he serves with. It has been an absolute privilege working with such a professional and accomplished leader like Jim, and I congratulate him on being honored with this award," said Batavia City Manager Jason Molino.

Chris O’Brien first joined the junior squad of the Bellmore Fire Department and was accepted as a member of Engine Co. 2 in 2001. A very active member, he quickly advanced through the ranks and became chief of department in 2013. O'Brien has also been employed as a firefighter with the Fire Department City of New York (FDNY) since 2005, and is currently assigned to Ladder 175 of Brooklyn.

O'Brien’s strong leadership was noted during response to a tractor-trailer explosion that occurred on December 17, 2013. In this incident, a fully loaded fuel tanker hauling 12,000 gallons of gasoline was struck by a sedan while traveling on the Sunrise Highway. The tanker overturned, and its ruptured tank caught fire as several thousand gallons of burning fuel rushed down nearby Brevoort Place. The massive fire, with flames 20 feet high at one point, threatened the entire residential section of Bellmore, but aggressive action by firefighters prevented catastrophic destruction of multiple homes as well as a number of businesses. Crews extinguished the raging fire, preventing loss of life and saving all surrounding properties. Only three minor injuries were reported. The Nassau County Fire Commission awarded the Bellmore Fire Department with a unit citation for actions during this incident, which averted a major disaster.

NYSAFC Past President Richard Messina, ex-chief of the Bellmore Fire Department said, "Chief O’Brien is one of the most advanced thinkers I know, with a cool and well thought out plan of attack in everything he does. Chris is an elite chief and an asset to the fire service of Bellmore, Nassau County, and New York state."