Fire

Chief Magazine, official organ of the

International Fire Chiefs' Association, presents

the award annually based on nominations from

national and state-level fire service

organizations. The recipient must be "an

exceptional fire chief" and must have made

significant contributions to fire service on a

regional or national basis.

He

will receive the award Sunday in Kansas City

during the Fire Rescue International `99

Conference, the annual meeting of the

International Fire Chiefs' Association.

"Obviously,

his peers know talent when they see it,"

County Commission Chairman Harold Bost said of

Krakeel's accomplishment. "Jack Krakeel is

extremely capable and we are indeed proud to have

him as Fayette County's chief."

Krakeel

has worked in fire and emergency services for

more than 25 years, 15 of them in Fayette County

as assistant chief and, since 1994, department

director.

Under

his direction, the department has been first more

than once. It was the first fire department in

Georgia to deploy automated external

defibrillators on engine companies and within the

past year has expanded the program county-wide to

include all law enforcement agencies.

The

department also was first in the state to have

career firefighters certified through the

National Professional Qualification System as

Firefighter II. Approximately 65 percent of the

staff are registered nationally as paramedics,

with paramedic certification a requirement for

all officers. Fayette's department is the only

one in Georgia with that level of certification.

Another

first, Fayette's department was the first in

Georgia to enact a sprinkler ordinance for

multifamily dwellings, and to develop a portable

fire safety education home, designed to teach

children how to escape from a burning home.

The

department's Emergency Medical Services also have

been first in Georgia to perform a variety of

advanced procedures, and recently entered into a

partnership with Clayton College and State

University and the University of Maryland to

enhance its paramedics' education for Critical

Care Paramedic certification.

As

a result, the Fayette EMS has received numerous

state, regional and national awards and has

hosted dignitaries from several foreign countries

who want to learn from Fayette's success.

Emergency

management also comes under Krakeel's direction

in Fayette, and the department recently was

recognized by the Federal Emergency Management

Agency for exemplary practices through

development and implementation of the Fayette

County Resource Council. The nonprofit council,

with members from both public and private sector

agencies, is designed to share resources in the

event of a hazardous materials crisis.

Krakeel

also has been involved in numerous local, state,

regional, national and international emergency

services organizations, and has been a primary

speaker at more than 30 conferences. He is past

president of the Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs

Association, and current chairman of the National

Fire protection Association's Technical Project

in EMS.

Krakeel

also is principle negotiator for the

International Association of Fire Chiefs to the

Health Care Financing Administration's

Negotiational Rulemaking Committee on a National

Ambulance Fee Schedule.

He

is in his third year as a ember of the Board of

Directors of the International Association of

Fire Chiefs, was instrumental in development of

the National Fire Services Accreditation Program,

and is one of ten faculty members for the

Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

He

also has been published in eight professional

publications.

"Certainly

Jack Krakeel has built and maintained a world

class team and consequently Fayette County

benefits from world class emergency

services," said county manager Billy

Beckett. "Throughout his career, Jack has

consistently demonstrated an extraordinary and

long-term commitment to public service in general

and to the vital public safety function

specifically.

"His

professionalism, leadership, aptitude, work ethic

and commitment to excellence are exemplary,"

Beckett added. "I am delighted that Jack has

been chosen by his peers for this wonderful

honor."

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