MONROVIA – Liberia’s long Fire Service logistical nightmare will soon be a ‘thing of the past’ – thanks to the visit of John Butler, the Liberian born and first black Fire Chief of the State of Virginia, United States of America who is in Liberia to assess the challenges faced by the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS).
Report by Edward Blamo, Contributor
Butler, who arrived in Liberia on Saturday, January 12, 2019, is expected to assess the country’s fire challenges, help conduct trainings for Liberian Fire Service personnel and present a certificate of Liberia’s membership to the International Fire Chiefs Association to Fire Marshall President George M. Weah.
In an interview, Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) Director Alex Dickson said the visit will also see the country benefit two new fire trucks which will among other things enhance the operational capacity of the Service.
He said “Liberia will play host to the first black Fire Chief from Virginia John Butler. His is an assessment and training visit to the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS). He is representing the International Fire Chief Association and will present Liberia’s certificate to the Chief Fire Marshall President George M. Weah as a full member of the association”.
“In addition, he will help with our in-service training for fire men at the Liberia National Fire Service training Academy. His weeklong visit begins on the 12 of January through the 19th. As a result of his visit, we may receive 2 new fire trucks to boost the capacity of the Liberia National Fire Service”, he said.
Butler, a retired Marine and former fire chief in Howard County, was sworn in on Tuesday, September 4th. He has been with the Howard County, I Md. Department of Fire and Rescue Services since 1993 and was appointed chief in 2014.
He began as a firefighter-paramedic in Howarud County, rising through the ranks to serve in a variety of roles with that department, including as battalion chief, emergency medical services chief and administrative chief. In addition to his firefighting experience, Butler served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 21 years, including two combat tours.
Butler holds a Master of Science in management from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Baltimore.
He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and holds a certificate from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Leadership in Crisis Program. He is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Human Relations Committee and Maryland’s Emergency Medical Services Board and is a 2014 recipient of Johns Hopkins University’s Global Achievement Award for his humanitarian work in Africa.