Ex-legislator to be sworn in as Ohio fire marshal

Served as fire chief in Madison Township

4/4/2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former state representative from central Ohio will take over as the state’s new fire marshal.

State fire marshal’s spokesman Shane Cartmill says former state Rep. Larry Flowers will be sworn in Monday in Columbus by Commerce Department director David Goodman.

The Republican from Canal Winchester served in the Ohio House from 2001 to 2008. He was fire chief in Madison Township in suburban Columbus from 1978 until retiring in 2000.

Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Donald Cooper has served as interim state fire marshal since Michael Bell resigned in April 2009 to become Toledo’s mayor. Cooper will return to his duties as chief deputy.

Among other duties, the state fire marshal directs the operations of the Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau and the Ohio Fire Academy.