Hail to the (Assistant) Chief
On Dec. 1, 2012 the Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District appointed Frank Frievalt to serve as Assistant Chief and help fill the void left when two division chiefs, Bill Anderson and Bob Rooks, took the opportunity to accept retirement incentives earlier in the year.
MLFD had 14 applicants for the job, but Frievalt, who knew MLFD Chief Brent Harper when he lived in Nevada, landed the position.
“I knew Chief Harper when he ran the fire academy in Nevada,” Frievalt said. Frievalt participated in the academy and therefore knew that Harper, “ran a good shop.”
Frievalt has worked in federal, state, and local government fire service organizations, most recently as the Division Chief of Operations for Sparks Fire Department in Nevada. He is a life-long learner earning an AS in Fire Science in 1986, a BS in Fire Administration in 1999, an MS in Fire and Emergency Management in 2004, and is currently finishing his doctoral studies in public policy and public administration at the University of Nevada, Reno.
He visited Mammoth over the years for skiing and his kids’ hockey stops, and while he doesn’t consider himself an extreme outdoor athlete is “outdoorsy.” So the job was a great opportunity for him to move to Mammoth.
During his career he has served in all ranks from firefighter to chief officer in suppression, training, prevention, and administrative roles. External to the department he served as Commander of the Northern Nevada Fire & Rescue Academy, as an instructor with the Dodd/Beals Oil Fire Protection Academy, as a representative to the Washoe County Local Emergency Planning Commission, formerly Chaired the Fire Advisory Board for Truckee Meadows Community College, was a general partner with the industrial fire protection consulting firm FIRE TRACS, LLC, has served as the acting Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Sparks (1999-2001), and has worked with the Sierra Front Incident Management Team as a Division/Group Supervisor.
Frievalt also served as the Nevada Vice President to the Western Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He is strongly committed to the concept of stewardship in the management of public affairs, and devotes significant time to the professional development of people and organization.
As for his plans at MLFD, Frievalt said he planned to spend the first six months learning how things are currently done at the department.
“They seem to have a good recipe and are really cranking out a great level of service so I want to maintain things and then contribute ideas after awhile,” he added.
At a recent Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District Commissioners meeting, MLFD Chief Brent Harper mentioned that he was getting near retirement.
Sheet: So are you being groomed to be the new chief?
Frievalt: It’s ultimately up to the Commission as both Chief Harper and I are in appointed positions.
His top priority is to take care of the community but to also “get the folks on the department home safely after every shift.”
Frievalt’s wife, Debbie is a former wildland Helitak & Hotshot firefighter. The couple has two children, Kyle, 21, recently a Specialist with the 25th Infantry Division, who just finished a tour serving in northern Iraq and Miranda, 18, is a high school Senior, manages the Washoe County regional JROTC Honor Guard, and enjoys school, photography, and excels in competitive mixed martial arts, recently winning her first amateur bout.
(Photo: Kirkner)
