Jeff Bowman Top Among Fire Chiefs

Jeff Bowman, Anaheim Fire Department’s top administrator, has been recognized as one of six certified fire chiefs in the state.

Bowman and the other chiefs were recently recognized by Gov. Pete Wilson and the state Board of Fire Services as the state’s first certified fire chiefs. Bowman, who became head of the Anaheim department in 1986 at age 34, is the only fire chief from Orange County to gain certification. The six were the first to complete a new state Fire Chief Certification program.

“I feel real proud,” said Bowman, 46, who started his career in Anaheim 25 years ago and worked his way to the top. “It just validates what I’ve always known: that I feel very competent at what I do.”

The state created the program in response to growing complexity of fire chief positions, said State Fire Marshal Ronny Coleman.

Certification programs for other firefighting positions have been offered for years.

To earn certification, the six fire chiefs provided information about their education and experience. A peer panel reviewed and scored the chiefs and determined they demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully run a modern fire department.