Crime & Safety

Monarch Chief Vineyard Voted President of Area Fire Chiefs Association

Monarch Fire Protection District's fairly new fire chief, Thomas Vineyard, was voted by his peers on Tuesday to head the St. Louis metropolitan region's group for all fire chiefs.

, who , added a few more new job responsibilities to his plate on Tuesday when he was elected to preside over the Greater St. Louis Area Fire Chiefs Association (GSLAFCA).

Since 1958, the association has served as a group through which fire chiefs share best practices, fire education trends and certain committee work, such as handling of hazardous materials (HAZMAT). Previously, Vineyard served as the association's secretary.

The association includes fire chiefs from St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson counties, as well as the city of St. Louis.

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As president of the association, Vineyard said one of his goals is to encourage fire chiefs to collectively determine how they can improve delivery of services to the region's communities. "I'd also like to get more chiefs actively involved in the association, and see what we can do on a regional basis to benefit everyone as a whole."

He said several other associations—such as those for leaders in fire training, emergency management services and fire marshals—act as subsidiaries, per se, to GSLAFCA. "The other groups work independently at times, but we also indirectly work together for special programs," he said.

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Vineyard joined the Monarch Fire Protection District in December with 23 years of experience. He first joined GSLAFCA about eight years ago when he became chief of Mid-County Fire Protection District of St. Louis County. 

Monarch has 125 employees, five firehouses and covers 55 square miles. It is based in Chesterfield. Monarch's House No. 2, at 18424 Wildhorse Creek Rd., services residents. In addition to Chesterfield and Wildwood, district employees service parts of Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, Clarkson Valley, Ballwin and unincorporated St. Louis County.


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