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Paramedic Rises to State Fire Marshal

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ILLINOIS GOVERNOR PAT QUINN ANNOUNCED Saturday that he has appointed Larry Matkaitis to fill the vacant position of State Fire Marshal.  Matkaitis served 30 years in the Chicago Fire Department, beginning as a paramedic, then rising to chief paramedic and later assistant deputy fire commissioner for emergency medical operations.

He currently serves as the northern regional administrator in the Office of State Fire Marshal, a position he’s held since 2005.  ”The Fire Marshal is dedicated to protecting our well-being from fire safety and prevention to elevator inspection and review,” Quinn said in a press release. ” Larry brings a wealth of experience and dedication to this important role.”

The office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal works together with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) and local departments to respond to man-made and natural emergencies, the release said. The agency also works closely with local fire departments to teach and regulate fire safety and prevention through inspections and setting personnel and education standards for Illinois firefighters.

The 61-year-old Matkaitis is a member of a state terrorism task force. He also is an Army veteran and certified pilot.  He also previously served on the Chicago firefighters union local board.

Matkaitis replaces Dave DeFraties, a Springfield firefighter who served as acting fire marshal since September.

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Posted by on January 3, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership • Tagged: , ,
  • http://twitter.com/firehat firehat

    Was he a dual-role paramedic in Chicago? In other words, was this guy ever a firefighter?

  • http://twitter.com/firehat firehat

    Was he a dual-role paramedic in Chicago? In other words, was this guy ever a firefighter?

  • http://www.firegeezer.com Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

    No

    Go here

    http://www.affi-iaff.org/index.cfm?zone=/uniona…

    then click on (Background Information)

  • Mark

    Another case of a non-firefighter appointed to the top fire official position responsible for the life safety of citizens from fire with no experience.

  • Semper Fi

    Nice. Lets just appoint a dog groomer to the head a FEMA, or the USFA. What they did is almost like appointing a EMT to be the organization(s) Medical Director. It makes NO SENSE!

    When will people learn just because you have a certificate that says your something, doesn't mean you can do the job. I bet alot of good candiates with fire experiance are fuming, and rightfully so.

  • Mark

    Another case of a non-firefighter appointed to the top fire official position responsible for the life safety of citizens from fire with no experience.

  • Semper Fi

    Nice. Lets just appoint a dog groomer to the head a FEMA, or the USFA. What they did is almost like appointing a EMT to be the organization(s) Medical Director. It makes NO SENSE!

    When will people learn just because you have a certificate that says your something, doesn't mean you can do the job. I bet alot of good candiates with fire experiance are fuming, and rightfully so.

  • Mark

    Another case of a non-firefighter appointed to the top fire official position responsible for the life safety of citizens from fire with no experience.

  • Semper Fi

    Nice. Lets just appoint a dog groomer to the head a FEMA, or the USFA. What they did is almost like appointing a EMT to be the organization(s) Medical Director. It makes NO SENSE!

    When will people learn just because you have a certificate that says your something, doesn't mean you can do the job. I bet alot of good candiates with fire experiance are fuming, and rightfully so.

  • Anonymous

    A very large, old, building was being torn down in Chicago to make room for a new skyscraper. Due to its proximity to other buildings it could not be imploded and had to be dismantled floor by floor.

    While working on the 49th floor, two construction workers found a skeleton in a small closet behind the elevator shaft.

    They decided that they should call the police. When the police arrived they directed them to the closet and showed them the skeleton fully clothed and standing upright. They said, “This could be Jimmy Hoffa or somebody really important.”

    Two days went by and the construction workers couldn’t stand it any more, they had to know who they had found. They called the police and said, “We are the two guys who found the skeleton in the closet and we want to know if it was Jimmy Hoffa or somebody important.”

    The police said, “It’s not Jimmy Hoffa, but it was somebody kind of important.”

    “Well, who was it?”

    “The 1956 Blonde National Hide-and-Seek Champion.”

    Have a nice day
    Hill
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