Oak Ridge fire chief selected to serve on state commission

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has announced the appointment of Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley to the Commission on Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education as a representative of the Tennessee Fire Chief’s Association, the Tennessee Fire Safety Inspectors Association, and the Tennessee Fireman’s Association.

The appointment is effective immediately and runs through July 31, 2020, a press release said.

Kerley has more than 37 years’ experience in fire and emergency services, serving in various capacities for several East Tennessee agencies, including fire chief for the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department, rescue technician and diver for the Knoxville Rescue Squad, and fire chief for the U.S Department of Energy at the K-25 Gaseous Diffusion plant in Oak Ridge.

In a letter to Kerley, Haslam stated: “I consider it very important to ensure that Tennessee’s boards and commissions are filled with the most dedicated and qualified citizens. I believe your participation is certain to leave a positive impact on this board and the work it does.”

The Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education Commission is responsible for the certification of volunteer and paid firefighters in the state of Tennessee. The nine-member Commission also administers the Educational Incentive Pay Program for paid firefighters in Tennessee.

The Commission is responsible for approving training programs to meet the requirements of T.C.A. 4-24-112 (the Minimum Training Statute) and proof of compliance with this statute through annual audits of selected fire departments.

“We are proud of Chief Kerley in his work for the City of Oak Ridge,” City Manager Mark Watson said in the press release. “Most notably, Chief Darryl Kerley has improved the Oak Ridge Fire Department to the ISO rating 2, which includes Oak Ridge as one of six department in Tennessee.

“We know Chief Kerley can add his expertise to help the people of Tennessee in this new capacity as a member of the Tennessee Fire Commission.”

There are more than 350 fire departments enrolled in the Commission’s programs serving more than 19,000 fire service personnel in Tennessee.

“Governor Haslam has placed a great amount of trust and confidence in my abilities to serve on the commission,” Kerley said. “I promise my colleagues and local fire departments that I will do my very best to work with the other commissioners to make Tennessee Fire Service one of the best in our nation, in order to make Tennessee an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”