Public Education

Urban Fire and Life Safety Task Force

The NFPA Urban Fire and Life Safety Task Force comprises representatives from large, urban fire departments whose roles encompass Community Risk Reduction. Members of the task force fill a variety of fire department roles including chief officers, fire and life safety educators, community relations officers, and data experts. Each year, task force members work on specific projects designed to assist urban fire departments across the globe implement strategic Community Risk Reduction programs. 

Task Force members
  • Atlanta, GA. Torrone Thomas, Captain, Inspections, Atlanta Fire Rescue
  • Calgary, AB. Canada. Shelley Steele, Community Safety Officer, Calgary Fire Department, Task Force Secretary
  • Charlotte, NC. Amy Rea, Senior Fire & Life Safety Educator, Charlotte Fire Department
  • Cleveland, OH. Anthony Luke, Assistant Chief, Cleveland Division of Fire
  • Detroit, MI. Theresa Halsell, Lt., Community Relations Division, Detroit Fire Department
  • Edmonton, AB. Canada. Gary Mayorchak, Fire Marshal, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services
  • El Paso, TX. Carlos Piedra, Battalion Chief, Asst. Fire Marshal, El Paso Fire Department
  • Hartford, CT. Ewan Sheriff, Captain, Fire Marshal, Hartford Fire Department
  • Indianapolis, IN. Allen Pekarek, Battalion Chief, Performance & Compliance, Indianapolis Fire Department
  • Las Vegas, NV. Steven Taulbee, Community Risk Reduction Officer, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue
  • Los Angeles, CA. Kwame Cooper, Assistant Chief, Los Angeles City Fire Department
  • Louisville, KY. Brian Meurer, Lt. Colonel, Fire Marshal, Louisville Division of Fire, Task Force Chair
  • Memphis, TN. Daryl Payton, Deputy Chief of Operations, Memphis Fire Department
  • Milwaukee, WI.  Micheal Ball, Lt., Community Relations, Milwaukee Fire Department
  • Oklahoma City, OK. Louis Marschik, Major, Public Education, Oklahoma City Fire Department
  • Philadelphia, PA. Clifford Gilliam, Captain, Fire Code Unit, Philadelphia Fire Department
  • Providence, RI. Peter McMichael, Captain, Fire Marshal, Providence Fire Department
  • St. Louis, MO. Derrick Phillips, Battalion Chief, St. Louis Fire Department
  • Seattle, WA. Dana Catts, Public Education & Outreach Specialist, Seattle Fire Department, Task Force Vice-Chair
  • Toronto, ON, Canada. Sean O'Neill, Public Educator, Toronto Fire Services
  • Wichita, KS. Jose M. Ocadiz, Public Education & Inspection, Wichita Fire Department