HOWELL – After 26 years of dedicated service to Howell Township, Chief Fire Marshal Robert Lewis has announced his retirement.
The Howell Township Bureau of Fire Prevention stated that Lewis’ retirement was effective June 1.
Lewis was hired as a Fire Prevention Inspector on June 1, 1997. During his career, he served as a Fire Protection Inspector working in conjunction with the Building Department conducting Fire Protection Inspections.
Lewis was promoted to lieutenant and served as the field supervisor for the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
Later in his career, Lewis was promoted to the rank of captain where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
In 2015, Robert was appointed as Chief Fire Marshal, and Fire Subcode Official having oversight of occupancies from its initial inception on plans, all the way through the initial occupancy and continued use of the building through comprehensive and aggressive fire prevention inspections.
Additionally, Lewis served as the Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator.
“Under Chief Lewis’s leadership, the Howell Township Bureau of Fire Prevention has increased its level of fire and life safety initiatives and community risk reduction assessments and activities to ensure our motto of prevention through education is reinforced to the residents, business owners and visitors of the Township of Howell,” Howell Township Fire Bureau said in a statement. “On behalf of the Howell Township Fire Bureau, we thank Chief Lewis for his countless hours of commitment and dedication to the Township of Howell and congratulate him on his retirement.”
At the June 13 council meeting, council members passed resolutions to accept Lewis’ resignation as well as appoint a new chief.
The Township welcomed Brian J. Prochnow as the new Chief of the Howell Township Bureau of Fire Prevention as he was appointed to fill the position.
Prochnow began his career with the Howell Township Fire Bureau in 2004 as a Fire Prevention Inspector.
In this role, he was responsible for the inspection of all new construction relating to fire protection in commercial and residential properties as well as the inspection of all installations of fire protection equipment.
On December 1, 2015, Prochnow was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Howell Township Fire Bureau as it relates to fire safety inspections and public education.
Prochnow holds an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science as well as a Certificate of Proficiency in Fire Code Enforcement. Prochnow is an Ex-Chief and Active member of the Adelphia Fire Company, which is one of the five fire departments within the Howell Township Fire Service.
