Structural Fire Fighting

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District Chief Ben Klaene retired from the Cincinnati Fire Department after 30 years of service. Klaene taught fire science courses at the University of Cincinnati for'27 years. He served as an adjunct instructor and subject matter expert at the National Fire Academy where he also assisted in revising courses in the Degrees at a Distance program. He also worked extensively as a fire safety consultant in the area of training industrial fire brigades and surveying community fire protection. Klaene served as a subject matter expert during the NIST high-rise fire-ground field experiments. Before his retirement as the Training & Safety Chief of the Cincinnati Fire Department, he rose through the ranks to fire apparatus operator, lieutenant, captain, and district chief. Chief Klaene’s 30 years of experience included working as a firefighter and company officer on engine, truck, and heavy rescue companies. He was also a graduate of the first paramedic class in Cincinnati where he functioned as paramedic supervisor. He holds an Associate Degree in Fire Science, a Bachelor of Science in Fire and Industrial Safety, and a Masters in Education from the University of Cincinnati. He is also a graduate of the U.S. National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program.

Russ Sanders serves as NFPA's Central Regional Manager, Executive Secretary of the NFPA/IAFC Metropolitan “Metro” Fire Chiefs Association and as an NFPA representative to the European Fire Service. In addition, Mr. Sanders serves as one of six Vice Presidents on the International Technical Committee for the Prevention and Extinction of Fire (CTIF). The CTIF, which currently includes 52 member countries, was founded in 1900. Mr. Sanders graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Master of Education Degree, and a Master of Science Degree. He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program and Harvard University's Senior Executive in State and Local Government Program. Prior to joining the NFPA staff in 1995, Mr. Sanders was Chief of the Louisville (KY) Fire Department (LFD). He served 29 years in the LFD, his last nine as Chief of the Department.