On the recordSeptember 19, 2012
today I wish to recognize Jona Olsson, fire chief of the Latir Volunteer Fire Department located near Questa, NM. Olsson was recently honored as the 2012 Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by Fire Chief for her tireless work at the Latir Volunteer Fire Department and her efforts to increase diversity in the local fire service. She was honored on August 3, 2012, during the opening session of the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Fire-Rescue International Conference and Exhibition in Denver, CO. After moving to New Mexico in 1999, Olsson was recruited to join the Latir Volunteer Fire Department. She quickly became integrated in the fire department, rising through the ranks, serving as a training officer, deputy chief, and eventually fire and EMS chief for the department in 2006. Olsson has facilitated training to individual departments and fire conferences across North America, as well as the United Kingdom. During tough economic times, Olsson and other volunteers have continued to expand the fire department, increasing training hours and the number of qualified volunteers. All 18 of Latir's volunteer firefighters are structure trained, 13 are qualified with wildland Red Cards, and nine have EMS licenses. The Latir Volunteer Fire Department also has an active junior firefighter program. In addition, the fire department recently built a new addition to the fire station and purchased another fire engine.…
