Former Arlington Fire Chief Bill Strickland, remembered as a visionary in the firefighting industry, died last Friday in Los Alamitos, Calif. He was 84.
Strickland joined the Arlington Fire Department as Fire Chief in 1982 after a 25-year career with the Los Angeles Fire Department. While with the LAFD, he served in multiple fire suppression assignments and as the Commander of the Fire and Arson Unit and Chief Training Officer.
During his tenure as Arlington Fire Chief, Strickland employed many new programs including a physical fitness program which included annual physicals, fitness standards, officer training programs, and vertical ventilation tactics.