Excellence in Fire & Life Safety Award

Ozzie Mirkhah is winner of 1st annual "Excellence in Fire & Life Safety Award" (award sponsored by the ICC)

The board of directors of the Fire & Life Safety Section is very pleased to announce that Azarang (Ozzie) Mirkhah, PE, MIFireE of the Las Vegas (NV) Fire Rescue Department is the first winner of the new Excellence in Fire & Life Award, sponsored by the International Code Council (ICC). Mr. Mirkhah's nomination cites his many years of research and ongoing communications efforts on behalf of the 1947 President's Conference on Fire Prevention. Following is an excerpt from his nominating abstract:

Since the America Burning Report, few have done more to bring a focus to fire prevention in this country. He has spent countless hours of his own time, through writing and speaking, spreading the word about the need for fire prevention. His dynamic style and passion for the subject raises everyone's awareness of the US fire problem. Ozzie has revitalized the 1947 Presidents Conference on Fire Prevention by retyping the report and making it universally available. It is now a prominent report on the USFA, NFPA, IFMA and other organizations' website. His grasp of the fire problem, the need for change and his ideas in forwarding fire prevention are at the forefront of the fire service.

Mr. Mirkhah will be presented his award on-stage in the Thomas Murphy Ballroom on Level 5 at Fire-Rescue International on Thursday, August 23 during the Education Keynote Address from 8:30 - 10:30am by IAFC First Vice President Steve Westermann and Jim Tidwell, ICC's Senior Vice President.

The four selected finalists are listed below as they all deserve recognition for their outstanding efforts and achievements. We hope that our members will touch base with these individuals who were selected as outstanding examples of "service, professional abilities and leadership in fire prevention" and ask them about their programs. Their creative ideas should be put to good use in your community!

We also thank those who were nominated but were not selected as finalists; it is truly amazing how many in the fire service are implementing innovative ideas for fire prevention in their communities. We applaud you for your service and dedication, as do your colleagues and peers.

Four finalists in alphabetical order:

Gregory Bulanow, Administrative Chief ~ North Charleston (SC) Fire Department, nominated for his study of smoke alarm presence and performance at residential fires in the City of North Charleston. Contact him at 843-740-2620 or bulanog@northcharleston.org.

Richard Ciarrone, Fire Inspector ~ Parma (OH) Fire Department, nominated for his development of a multiple city regional fire safety project to purchase a fire safety trailer and develop an educational program for children. Contact him at 440-885-1217 ext 104 or insprciarrone@parmafire.org.

Azarang (Ozzie) Mirkhah, Fire Protection Engineer ~ Las Vegas (NV) Fire Rescue, nominated for his years of research and ongoing communications efforts on behalf of the 1947 President's Conference on Fire Prevention. Contact him at 702-229-6761 or amirkhah@lasvegasnevada.gov.

John F. "Sonny" Scarff, Senior Director for Corporate Fire Protection ~ Marriott International, nominated for his thirty years of effort in improving fire safety for all Marriott hotel guests world-wide. Contact him at 301-380-7502 or sonny.scarff@marriott.com.