The FLSS board of directors is pleased to announce that Azarang (Ozzie) Mirkhah, PE 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 U.S. 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... Read more (pdf)
Photo, from left: IAFC President Chief Jim Harmes; Mr. Mirkhah; ICC VP of Fire Services Activities Mr. Jim Tidwell