Santa Monica Fire Chief Scott Ferguson has promoted a two-time Firefighter of the Year award recipient to battalion chief.
Jeff Furrows joined the SMFD in July 1986 after serving two-years as a paramedic in Glendale, Calif.
A battalion chief is a key member of the management staff for a fire department or fire agency. The battalion chief is responsible for managing day to day operations. When on shift, she or he coordinates emergency responses and manages fire crews large and small, supervising the fire captains who handle individual groups of firefighters.
During his 27-year tenure with SMFD, Furrows served as the department's paramedic coordinator and led the fire department's medical response to the very first Stadium to the Sea LA Marathon in 2010.
Furrows has been awarded Firefighter of the Year twice while with the department, in 1994 and 1997.
"Captain Furrows epitomizes the kind of discipline, energy, and compassion necessary to be a successful battalion chief," Ferguson said. "Perhaps his greatest gift is that of a teacher. Given our department's large number of recent retirements and subsequent new hires, this characteristic may become our greatest asset."
SMFD protects more than 92,000 residents in an area of 8.3 square miles, and consists of over 110 civilian staff and firefighters.
Furrows will begin his new duties Christmas day.