The Division of Fire Safety is lead by the Director of Fire Safety, the State Fire Marshal. The Division of Fire Safety/State Fire Marshal’s Office is responsible for operations throughout the entire State specific to:

• law enforcement related to arson,
• fire cause investigations,
• building collapse,
• carbon monoxide and fire death investigations,
• fire code enforcement,
• fire code interpretations,
• hazardous materials accidents,
• public fire safety education,
• canine unit,
• analysis of data,
• collection of data in relation to fire service emergency response
• assist communities during emergencies,
• staff and local responders training,
• technical plans review service through out the state.

The items listed above involve coordination between multiple agencies during emergency response, enforcement activities and investigations between federal, state, country, and local departments.

Under the Director, there is an Assistant Director/Deputy State Fire Marshal that oversees the Bureau of Investigations. Another Deputy State Fire Marshal oversees the Bureau of Building Safety and Construction. Two District Chiefs and six Investigators cover eight regions across the state.

RETIREMENTS:

Henri Dionne
Director Degnan thanked Electrical Inspector Hank Dionne at a luncheon honoring him for his 10 years of service to the State of New Hampshire. Hank continues his service to the the State of New Hampshire at the Bureau of Public Works. Hank provided coverage for the northern part of the state. Division members wish him well in his new endeavors.

Bill Benard
Bill Benard retired from public service on April 4, 2008. Bill served the southern part of the state for many years and will be missed. Bill moves on to the private sector where he will remain in the electrical safety industry.

NEW HIRES:

Shana Warriner
Shana was hired on October 12, 2007 as the Executive Secretary in the Mechanical Safety and Licensing Section. Shana worked part time for the division and recently graduated from Hesser College with an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice.

Jeff Cyr
On November 2, 2007, Jeffrey Cyr was hired as the division's first employee in the Mechanical Safety Section. Chief Cyr comes to the division to fill the newly formed Chief Mechanical Inspector's position. Chief Cyr comes to the division with a long history in the heating industry and also the code enforcement arena. Chief Cyr lives in Concord with his family.

Ken Walsh and Dave Quinn
On December 21, 2007, Ken Walsh was hired to fill the Modular Building Program Administrator position formerly held by Beverly Kowalik. Dave Quinn was also hired to fill a new position as the Modular Building Inspector. The division is committed to bringing this section back to the forefront in the industry. For more information, check the modular building section.

Mike Capsalis
Mike Capsalis was the first mechanical inspector to be hired on February 22, 2008 to work under Chief Cyr in the Mechanical Safety Section. Mike comes to the division with experience as a former state plumbing inspector.

Tom Riley
Tom Riley was hired as an investigator on March 28, 2008. Tom comes to the division from the Belknap County Sheriff's Office and will be covering the Grafton County area.

Randy Sherman
Randy Sherman was hired as a mechanical inspector on March 28, 2008. Randy comes to the division with both heating experience and firefighting experience. He will be covering the Ossipee Valley area.

Robert "Roy" Pender
Roy started with the Division on April 4, 2008 and also comes with state plumbing inspector background. Roy will be covering the seacoast region where he has already developed a rapport with local officials.

Daniel Plummer
Dan was hired as a mechanical inspector from the State of Virginia on April 18, 2008, with many years of experience in the heating industry. Dan will be covering the Keene region for the Mechanical Safety Section.

PROMOTIONS:

John Southwell and Max Schultz
It is with great pleasure that Director Degnan announced the promotions of two investigators to the rank of District Chiefs. Investigators Southwell and Schultz were promoted to the rank of District Chief effective July 6, 2007. Investigator Southwell has been with the division since 1988 and Investigator Schultz joined the division in 2003. The District Chiefs will be responsible for two area commands with three investigator and five inspectors.

NOTABLE MENTION:

TWO INVESTIGATORS RECEIVE TOP HONORS AT 144TH POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATION CEREMONY
Director J. William Degnan is pleased to announce that two recent graduates of the 144th Police Academy received top honors in their class. Investigator Stacey Dubois received top academic honors edging out one of her classmates by less than one point. Investigator Stephanie Johnson received the top female physical fitness award for her class. Both investigators were the first two investigators to complete the academy for the division. Dubois, the latest addition to the investigator ranks covers Region 1 in the north country and Johnson covers Region 2 in the Grafton County area.