Roundtable Talk – Educate Your Community on Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

Chief Johnson's career spans 25 years of public service.  In his early career he started the fire service in 1993 with the El Dorado County Fire Department and joined the U.S. Forest Service in 1995 where he held positions from firefighter to fire captain.  He was an instructor of Fire Science at the College of Southern Nevada.  Later he held the positions of Assistant Chief and Fire Training Instructor at Clark County Fire Department in the State of Nevada. These roles required him to supervise a paid and volunteer firefighting staff, 13 Fire Stations and EMS personnel. 

Currently Chief Johnson is the Fire Chief for Ebbett’s Pass Fire District, a position he was appointed to in September of 2014. The Ebbett’s Pass Fire District provides fire suppression, advanced life support, and ground emergency medical transport for its 6,750 residents and visitors within the Special Districts 225 square mile boundary. Chief Johnson is very proud of the quality of service provided and their bound to our community.

Charlie Kludt is secretary and training officer for the Viborg Volunteer FD, Viborg, SD. He is a captain, FF/EMT and inspector at Joe Foss Field, Sioux Falls, SD. He is an “if needed” EMT for the Viborg Ambulance service.

He has over 30 years in fire suppression, rescue, prevention, and inspection activities. He has certifications as Rescue Technician, driver-operator, inspector, instructor, and NWCG wildland.

Charlie was elected SE District Director of the South Dakota Firefighters in 2010. He has served as President of the South Dakota Firefighters Association since 2014.

In 2015, he was appointed NVFC State Director for South Dakota. Currently serving as Wildland committee member, as well as, a representative to the NFPA Wildland PPE committee.

He and his wife, Dawn, are members of the South Dakota-Local Assistance State Team (SD-LAST).

Prior to a firefighting career, he was a Jr/Sr High School vocational instructor, coach, and Administrator. He served as mayor for 14 years; Planning and Zoning Chairman; School Board member; and church committee member (which has a “forever” term limit). 

Steve’s fire service journey began in 1978 as a Volunteer Firefighter in Nevada. He went on to serve with the Clark County Fire Department, where he held various roles, including Firefighter, Paramedic, and Engineer. Steve’s final position was as the Rural Coordinator, where he oversaw 13 volunteer departments and more than 350 volunteers. After a distinguished career, he retired in 2009. Steve has remained deeply committed to the Volunteer Fire Service, serving two terms as President of the Nevada State Firefighters’ Association. He actively represents Nevada on the National Volunteer Fire Council, advocating for initiatives that benefit Volunteer Firefighters nationwide. Steve is currently the Chair of the Wildland Committee.

 Steve is married to Marla, his lovely wife of over 20 years, has five beautiful children and two amazing grandchildren.

Started my Firecareer in 1994 in Malden Massachusetts at Malden Rescue 2 the auxiliary firedepartment for the city of Malden. Then worked for three years as a seasonalfirefighter for the Massachusetts Department of environmental management. Whilelaid off in the winters I lived in Lincoln, New Hampshire and was a member ofthe Lincoln New Hampshire fire department for 4 years. Then in 2000 joined theUnited States Army as a military police officer and was stationed at FortCarson, Colorado for 5 years. With a few deployments overseas. While in thearmy during my free time, I was a volunteer firefighter with the StratmoreHills Fire dept, southwest Highway 115 fire district and Divide Fire Dept. Wasalso a captain with the El Paso County Sheriff‘s office Wildland fire crew.Moving back to Massachusetts in 2006 as the district for fire warden for theBarnstable (Cape Cod) Dukes (Martha’s Vineyard) and Nantucket counties.Currently hold a crew boss certification and I’m also a member BarnstableCounty incident management team.