Metcalf appointed to International Fire Institute Board

FAIRFAX, VA — The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is pleased to announce the formation and inaugural meeting of the International Fire Service Research Center and Policy Institute (The Institute). The Institute was born out of a National Policy Center task force, originally conceived in 2002.

“The Institute was created to fill an international need for quality, unbiased research as a component of effective public policy,” said IAFC President Chief Jim Harmes. “It was established by the IAFC because of the importance of the fire rescue services, the amount of resources used in the delivery of these services and the concern over the high rates of civilian and firefighter death rates in the US.”

Policy and direction for the new institute will be managed by an international board of directors. They will also serve to provide direct and indirect financial support for the organization. In May, during the inaugural meeting of The Institute, board member Bill Metcalf – North County Fire Protection District Fire Chief – was elected treasurer.

“I believe the International Fire Service Research and Policy Institute is an idea whose time has come and that in 10 years, it will be viewed as an essential and trusted source of fire service policy research and information readily available to all fire and emergency service agencies,” said Institute President Chief Ernie Mitchell. “Communities will be able to rely less upon local anecdotal evidence and more upon objective, legitimate, credible research led by The Institute in partnership with the entire first responder community.”

For more information about The Institute, contact Chief Executive Officer Bill Pessemier at [email protected].