Jim Jarboe receives NVFC Fire Prevention and Education Award
The National Volunteer Fire Council presented Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim Jarboe its 2015 NVFC Fire Prevention and Education Award last month. The award, sponsored by First Alert, honors a volunteer firefighter or nonoperational volunteer who exemplifies the philosophy of fire prevention.
Jarboe is well known in the community for more than 50 years of service, offering safety education through his long association with Takoma Park Fire Department. What Takoma Parkers may not know is that Jarboe also participates actively with a number of Maryland fire safety groups, including the Maryland State Fireman’s Association Fire Prevention Committee and the Fire and Burn Safety Coalition of Maryland.
“He dedicated much of his life to public service and made major strides to bring prestige, credibility and recognition to volunteer firefighters nationwide.”
On the home front, Jarboe has coordinated and been the lead instructor of the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department’s Babysitter’s Safety Training Program since 1964. More than 2,500 girls and boys have completed the 10-hour program under his leadership. Since 1982, Chief Jarboe has authored the monthly Firehouse Report column in the city’s newsletter, which includes fire safety messages, response statistics, fire loss data and more. Each Halloween he paints pumpkins and displays them throughout the area with safety tips for trick-or-treating. He also coordinates a partnership with the Lions Club and Holy Cross Hospital blood drives to provide fire safety information to blood donors.
Throughout his tenure at the department, Jarboe has helped to design emergency preparedness brochures; developed, organized and coordinated the city-wide Operation Smoke Detector Check project; served as a safety monitor at the city’s annual Halloween haunted house; and provided a weekly hour-long fire safety segment at the local college radio station. Jarboe also continues to provide fire safety tips during department programs and city events.
The Fire Prevention and Education award was established in memory of volunteer firefighter Marc Mueller. According to NVFC’s web site, Mueller “energetically promoted the causes of volunteer firefighters and supported all efforts to elevate the volunteer program to its highest level. He dedicated much of his life to public service and made major strides to bring prestige, credibility and recognition to volunteer firefighters nationwide.”
Jim Jarboe exemplifies a similar community spirit.
This article appeared in the May 2015 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.
