Jeff LaFlam, fire marshal for the Northshore Fire Department, received the 2011 Fire Marshal of the Year Award from the Washington State Association of Fire Marshals (WSAFM). The award was presented Oct. 5 at the annual fire prevention institute in Chelan.

WSAFM is a statewide organization of fire-safety professionals dedicated to improving community safety through education, engineering and code compliance. LaFlam has dedicated more than 20 years of his fire-service career working in fire prevention. Currently he serves on the board of WSAFM, chairs the King County Zone 1 Fire Marshals organization, is on the advisory board of King County Interagency Resource for Achieving Cooperation (IRAC) and is an active member of the Washington State Fire Sprinkler Coalition.

LaFlam has been instrumental in leading efforts to reduce the risks and negative effects from fire and injury. In February, the Kenmore City Council passed a residential fire-sprinkler ordinance that will improve the safety of its citizens for decades to come.

“Fire sprinklers are the future of home safety,” LaFlam said, “but this would not have been successful without the support of Northshore Fire Department’s Board of Commissioners, the Kenmore city manager and their building official along with the assistance of many others throughout the state and across the nation.”