The National Fire Heritage Center (NFHC) is pleased to announce the election of Kevin Barkley Sr. of Galway, NY, to its Board of Directors. With his diverse fire service leadership experience, the Saratoga County resident strengthens the NFHC’s mission of preserving and promoting America’s fire protection legacy.
As the nation’s premier archive for fire protection history, the NFHC safeguards a vast collection of irreplaceable documents and artifacts. These perishables include art and artifacts, audio recordings, books, charts, maps, photographs, reports, and videos that chronicle the evolution of the fire protection industry. Barkley’s expertise will be instrumental in enhancing the center’s ability to protect these vital resources and ensure their accessibility for future generations of researchers, firefighters, and the public.
Dr. Lynn White, President of the NFHC, remarked on the appointment: “Kevin brings to the board an understanding of the importance of the history of volunteer, municipal, industrial, and military fire protection. His lifetime dedication to fire services and disciplines has been supported by his wife, Irene, who is an avid fire incident photographer, and his family. His son and stepson have followed in his footsteps with a commitment to keep his knowledge alive in their work.”
Dr. White emphasized, “Kevin’s extensive network of peers nationally and internationally will be valuable in our efforts for the next five years to improve archive skills and use of our archives by volunteers and professionals in a broad scope of fire protection responsibilities.”
Barkley’s fire service career spans more than five decades. He began as a member of the Galway Volunteer Fire Company in 1974, rising through the ranks to serve as chief, assistant chief, president, and vice president. Concurrently, he joined the Naval Nuclear Laboratory in West Milton, NY in 1975, retiring after 49 years of service as Assistant Fire Brigade Leader and Senior Emergency Engineering Preparedness Specialist.
Since 1989, Barkley has been involved with Saratoga County Officer of Emergency Services, where he is a Deputy Fire/Hazmat Coordinator. He is also a respected instructor at major national fire service events, including the FDIC, Fire RESCUE EAST and WEST, New York State Fire Chiefs, Industrial FireWorld Conferences, and International Fire Chiefs Association.
Barkley expressed his enthusiasm for the new opportunity: “I’m honored to join the NFHC board and contribute to preserving our rich fire protection history. With my media and planning background, I look forward to helping the NFHC advance its crucial mission.
He noted that when he enlisted as a volunteer firefighter in 1974, he thought he would be the first one in my family in emergency services, but he soon learned that it was a family tradition. “My great, great grandfather was the Fire Chief of Amsterdam (NY), while my great uncle was a firefighter there.
The NFHC has an engaged board of directors representing the diverse sectors of fire protection fields across the nation. Together, they work to guide the NFHC into the future, ensuring that the history of the fire protection disciplines are preserved for generations to come.
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