fire inspectors association of indiana

FIAI Board Update!

As you may recall, we had several open positions on the FIAI Board.  I am pleased to announce the following additions to the FIAI Board:

• Chris Betzner has been appointed Treasurer.  This is a critically important position for any organization, and Chris has agreed to serve in this capacity for FIAI.  Chris has 37 years of experience in public safety, starting his career as a fire fighter for the City of Peru in 1985, moved up through the ranks and finally advanced to Fire Chief, retiring after 33 years of service. Chris then joined the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and worked as a Deputy State Fire Marshal for 2.5 years, then for Indiana University for the office of Loss Control as a Fire Inspector for 2 years. He now works for the Zionsville Fire Department as Fire Inspector/ Investigator.  Chris has owned 2 businesses and has been married to his wife Janet for 40 years.
• Josh Earl has moved up to Central District Chair. Josh is the current Fire Marshal for Vernon Township Fire Department. He has been in the fire service for 11 years (all of which has been in Code Enforcement), with an additional 4 years working in the private sector for a fire protection company. He has been with the Vernon Township Fire Department since October 2021. Prior to that, he was the Deputy Fire Marshal at Fishers Fire Department; the Commercial Building Inspector for the City of Fishers; a volunteer firefighter at Cicero Fire Department (where he still occasionally assist them with inspections or investigations); and as a Fire and Building Code Official for the Division of Fire and Building Safety for the Indiana State Fire Marshals Office.
• Steve Kropacek ins the new Central District Vice-Chair.  Steve is the Division Chief of Fire Prevention/Fire Marshal for the Greenfield Fire Department, a position he has held since 2020.  Prior to that, he was a Shift Fire Inspector since 2016, and a Shift Investigator since 2011.  He has led GFD's Juvenile Firesetter program since 2008.
• Scott Thomas has accepted the position of Vice-Chair of the North District.  Scott is currently the Chief Fire Inspector and Lead Investigator for the Goshen Fire Department, where he has served in these roles for 7 years, and been employed since 2006.  Prior to Goshen, Scott served with the Markle Fire Department.  Scott is a IAAI Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) and ICC Fire Inspector 2, among many other certifications.  

In my 11 years on the board of FIAI, this is the first time we have had every position filled - congratulations to all!  For quick reference, here is the complete board:

• Past President - Steve Rowland, Indianapolis Fire Department
• President - Darrel Cross, Noblesville Fire Department
• Vice-President - Ron Lipps, Zionsville Fire Department
• Secretary - Ryan Flora, Westfield Fire Department
• Treasurer - Chris Betzner, Zionsville Fire Department
• North District Chair - Gerard Ellis, South Bend Fire Department
• North District Vice-Chair - Scott Thomas, Goshen Fire Department
• Central District Chair - Josh Earl, Vernon Township Fire Department
• Central District Vice-Chair - Steve Kropacek, Greenfield Fire Department
• South District Chair - Gene Wever, Bartholomew County Code Enforcement