After an extensive search and recruitment process, Orange County named Elizabeth Farnan as the new Fire Marshal for Orange County. She officially began her duties Sept. 25.
Farnan, who was appointed Acting Fire Marshal in July, began her career in 1994 as a telecommunicator for Orange County before moving on to various firefighting roles with the Town of Carrboro, Orange County and Chapel Hill Fire Departments. She has served as Assistant Fire Marshal with Orange County Emergency Services since October 2009 and holds numerous certifications.
“I am confident that her 27 years of experience and wealth of knowledge will serve the county well,” said Orange County Emergency Services Director Kirby Saunders.
Farnan graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in psychology/religion and serves on a number of professional organizations. She was recently nominated to serve on the N.C. Fire Code Revision Committee through the N.C. Office of the State Fire Marshal
“I am very honored for the opportunity to serve as the Fire Marshal for Orange County,” Farnan said. “Some of my goals and visions in serving Orange County are promoting every home having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, implementing more fire and life safety educational programs, and working with all our partners to build a solid Community Risk Reduction Dashboard. I look forward to continuing the efforts of the previous Fire Marshals in furthering the legacy of the Fire Marshal Division’s commitment to life safety, community service, and risk reduction for all.”
Duties of the Fire Marshal include enforcing the North Carolina State Building Code, Fire Prevention Code and local ordinances, interpreting and implementing local, State, and Federal laws, rules, and regulations, and overseeing the County's fire prevention, fire response, fire suppression, and fire investigation programs.