Press Release courtesy of the City of Frisco
(March 14, 2012) The City of Frisco’s Fire Chief Mack Borchardt has been named ‘2011 Fire Chief of the Year’.
The Texas Fire Chiefs Association (TFCA) honored Chief Borchardt with the award today during the Southwest Fire Rescue 2012 conference luncheon held at the Frisco Conference Center.
“Chief Borchardt has not only served Frisco for decades, but also serves as a strong ambassador for the fire service in Texas,” said Robert Isbell, President of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association and City of Midland Fire
Chief. “We are excited to recognize his outstanding leadership while members of our association are meeting in his hometown.”
Nearly 300 fire chiefs and senior fire officers from a five state region, including Texas, are in Frisco through March 15 for the conference, which began Monday. Established in 1988, the TFCA boasts more than 800 members. The annual conference is considered “the state’s premier event for fire service leaders.”
Chief Borchardt is a lifelong resident of Frisco, who began his fire service career in 1973 as a Frisco volunteer firefighter. In 1981, after serving with the City of McKinney Fire Department, he became city administrator in Frisco and fire chief of the Volunteer Frisco Fire Department. In 1987, he became fire chief ‘full time’. Under Chief Borchardt’s direction, the Frisco Fire Department has grown from an all-volunteer force to more than 150 full time employees -- and from a single fire station to a network of six stations, with a seventh under construction. Chief Borchardt is also credited with establishing Frisco Fire Safety Town, a facility dedicated to safety education for ‘children of all ages’ and the first of its kind in the country. Chief Borchardt
was also instrumental in helping develop S.A.F.E.R – or Situational Awareness For Emergency Response, which is a unique program giving Frisco firefighters, EMTs and police officers immediate access to building information, including real time video, during school emergencies.
“It (the award) was a surprise and very humbling,” said Chief Borchardt. “I would not have received this award were it not for the support of our elected officials, city manager, citizens, a great group of firefighters – not to mention, my family. This award is truly a tribute to all of them,” added Chief Borchardt. “Truth is, our firefighters do a great job here, so we’re able to get some things done that have been recognized by our peers.”
“I’m so proud of Chief Borchardt and his achievements, not to mention our firefighters and first-class department,” said Mayor Maher Maso. “During my travels throughout the state -- and the country, I always hear people say great things about Chief Borchardt, what he and our firefighters have been able to accomplish as a team through his leadership. Chief Borchardt is held in high esteem by his peers and the citizens he serves. He’s
considered to be creative, dedicated and not afraid to ‘roll up his sleeves.’ We’re blessed to have him as our chief,” said Mayor Maso.
A proclamation from Mayor Maso recognized Borchardt’s 30 years of service by naming December 2011 as ‘Mack Borchardt Month’ in Frisco. During his years as a Frisco leader, the city has grown from a small town to a
booming suburb with a population of more than 124,000.