The board of directors of the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Fire & Life Safety Section named Azarang Mirkhah of the Las Vegas Fire Rescue Department as the first winner of the Excellence in Fire & Life Safety Award. The award, sponsored by the International Code Council, honors individuals who have dedicated themselves to saving lives and property through the development of codes, fire-prevention practices and leadership techniques.

Mirkhah’s nomination cites his many years of research and ongoing communications efforts on behalf of the 1947 President’s Conference on Fire Prevention. Following is an excerpt from his nominating abstract:

Since the America Burning Report, few have done more to bring a focus to fire prevention in this country. He has spent countless hours of his own time, through writing and speaking, spreading the word about the need for fire prevention. His dynamic style and passion for the subject raises everyone’s awareness of the US fire problem. Ozzie has revitalized the 1947 President's Conference on Fire Prevention by retyping the report and making it universally available. It is now a prominent report on the USFA, NFPA, IFMA and other organizations’ website. His grasp of the fire problem, the need for change and his ideas in forwarding fire prevention are at the forefront of the fire service.

The other finalists for the award were:

• Gregory Bulanow, administrative chief, North Charleston (S.C.) Fire Department, nominated for his study of smoke alarm presence and performance at residential fires in the City of North Charleston.
• Richard Ciarrone, fire inspector, Parma (Ohio) Fire Department, nominated for his development of a multiple city regional fire safety project to purchase a fire safety trailer and develop an educational program for children.
• John F. “Sonny” Scarff, senior director for corporate fire protection, Marriott International, nominated for his 30 years of effort in improving fire safety for all Marriott hotel guests world-wide.