Bruce Suenram

Bruce Suenram, Past President (2000-2003) Bruce Suenram has worked in the field of fire protection and prevention since 1969. He is currently a Deputy Chief of the Fire & Aviation Bureau of MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. He administers the preparedness activities of the Bureau such as training, fire prevention, fire investigation, GIS, assessments, information technology, and equipment development. Bruce served as Montana's State Fire Marshal (1992-1997), as chief of the Missoula Rural Fire District (1980-1992), and as the chief of the Kelseyville, CA, Fire Protection District (1974-1980). Bruce was on the original code development committee for the Urban/Wildland Interface Code and on the International Fire Chief's Association Urban/Wildland Interface Committee. He acted as the liaison for the National Association of State Fire Marshals to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's Urban/Wildland Interface Advisory Committee. In addition, Bruce has taught courses for the National Fire Academy, the Northern Training Center, the Montana Fire Services Training School and the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. He served as an Incident Commander for a Type II Incident Management Team for 8 years. Bruce is also qualified as a Type 1 Planning Section Chief. Bruce received a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from California State College Stanislaus in 1973. Bruce is currently serving as the National Association of State Foresters representative to the International Association of Fire Chiefs Wildland Fire Policy Committee. Bruce is an ex officio member of the Board of Directors of FireSafe Montana. He is also the MT State Coordinator for the Montana Chapter of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry.