Glendale Assistant Fire Chief Jim Higgins, a 29-year veteran, was designated as a “Chief Fire Officer” (CFO) by the Commission on Professional Credentialing on July 9, 2008.

According to the Commission, Chief Higgins has demonstrated through education, leadership and management skills, the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the fire and emergency services profession. Chief Higgins joins an elite group of just 602 CFOs worldwide and is the third Glendale Chief Officer to reach the designation. In 2007 Glendale Fire Chief Mark Burdick and Assistant Fire Chief Chris DeChant also received the prestigious title of CFO.

Chief Higgins was named Glendale Fire’s 2007 “Firefighter of the Year” In March of 2008 for his dedication towards the award winning state-of-the-art Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center. “Chief Higgins is and has always been absolutely committed to representing what he cares for the most; not just the name of the Glendale Fire Department, but the people who represent it,” said Glendale Fire Chief Mark Burdick. “We congratulate Chief Higgins on his much deserved CFO designation,” Chief Burdick continued.