East Fork Fire Chief Carlini named Elks Citizen of the Year

With 23 years under his belt as chief of the East Fork Fire Protection District, Tod Carlini will be sharing his experience at the Aug. 17 meeting of the International Footprinter’s Association.

Carlini was named the Tahoe Douglas Elks Citizen of the Year on March 31.

Starting out as a volunteer himself, Carlini began fighting fires with the Yerington Volunteer Fire Department in 1975 before he went to the University of Utah to obtain degrees in history and architecture.

He joined the Mason Valley Fire District in 1985 and was promoted to chief in 1990. He came over to East Fork as training captain in 1997 before being promoted to chief in 2000 at age 42.

“He is considered today to be Nevada’s senior-most tenured fire chief within the State of Nevada,” said East Fork Fire Protection District Board member John Bellona. “He is considered a leading authority in wildland fire cost sharing, negotiation, and cost apportionment with Federal agencies.”

Until June 30, Carlini was Douglas County’s emergency manager for 16 years.

He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, which is equivalent to a master’s degree in fire and EMS Administration. He served as the Executive Secretary of the Nevada State Firefighters’ Association and was one of Nevada’s representatives to the National Volunteer Fire Council. He serves as the chairman and founding member of the Nevada State Firefighter Memorial and is a former member of the State Emergency Response Commission sub-committee on Planning and Training, a former member of the now State Resiliency Committee, and one of former Gov. Kenny Guinn’s appointed members of the Nevada Homeland Security Commission, created after Sept. 11, 2001.

In 2011, He was awarded the Health Care Legacy Award, by the Carson Valley Medical Center Foundation for providing for the in-field 12-lead ECG system. He serves on the State of Nevada Interstate Mutual Aid Committee responsible for in-state movement and policy regarding all mutual aid resources. He is a founding member of the Nevada Wildland Fire Protection Plan, which provides an opportunity for local governments to pass on its financial liabilities for wildland fire suppression to the State of Nevada. 

Three East Fork Fire Protection District employees and one volunteer were recognized by the Elks at the March 31 awards dinner. 

This year, East Fork’s Administrative Specialist II Holly Mcgee, Firefighter Paramedic Justin Tenney, and Gardnerville Volunteer Keith Fuggles were recognized for outstanding achievement over the past year.  They were selected by their respective peers and co-workers to receive the awards and recognition.

Mcgee has been with the East Fork Fire Protection District for more than seven years and has served in several administrative support roles.  She currently serves as the clerk of the East Fork Fire Protec-tion District Board of Directors.  

Firefighter-Paramedic Justin Tenney has been with the district for four years now and is currently assigned to C shift.

Volunteer Keith Fuggles has been a volunteer for the past four years and serves as a volunteer at Fire Station 2 in Gardnerville. 

“Keith has unselfishly given his time to the community during the COVID emergency and other significant district events,” Bellona said. “He has made a significant impact to training, particularly the volunteer program as a CPR-first aid and logistics instructor. He serves as the volunteer representative on the district safety committee. Keith is the volunteer go-to guy.”

Also honored at the Elks awards was Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Capt. Andy Isenberg

Isenberg started his fire service career as a seasonal firefighter with the Nevada Division of Forestry. He then took a full-time position with Storey County Fire Department. He made a career choice and found a home with Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, where he has worked through all positions within the organization to his present position of captain.

“He has a diverse knowledge in para-medicine, structural firefighting, wildland firefighting, and hazardous material emergency response, Bellona said. He has earned the unofficial title of the district’s ‘Swiss Army Knife’”

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Fire Engineer-Paramedic Mike Mileski joined the department in 2007.

Mileski oversees department personal protective equipment, and its maintenance. He is a member of the Behavioral Health Team and has been proactive in learning about how best to deal with the mental health aspects of being a firefighter, paramedic.

“Mike is a former union board member and helps with new hire training,” Bellona said. “Being originally from Wisconsin, Mike is also a big fan of the Milwaukee Brewers, and Green Bay Packers. SLTFR is proud to have Mike as a team member and friend.”