Fire Prevention Staff

Mr. Robert Owens, CFI Fire Marshal	A.A.S., Fire Protection, Guilford Technical Community College, 2002 N.C. Certified Fire Investigator N.C. Level II Firefighter N.C. Level II Fire Service Instructor N.C. Level III Fire Inspector Certified N.C. Fire Inspector Instructor N.C. Emergency Medical Technician As the Fire Marshal, Robert oversees all Fire Prevention operations, including Plan Review, Fire Code Enforcement, and Fire Investigations. He is available at (336)773-7971.
Mr. Norman Mitchell, CFI Deputy Fire Marshal	N.C. Certified Fire Investigator N.C. Level II Firefighter N.C. Level III Fire Inspector Certified N.C. Fire Inspector Instructor Norman is the Deputy Fire Marshal for the Winston-Salem Fire Department. He primarily reviews construction plans for Commercial, Multi-Family and Industrial Building projects within the city limits of Winston-Salem. He insures that fire alarm, sprinkler, extinguishing system, tanks and site plans comply with the applicable Codes and Standards. He can be reached at (336)747-6935.
Mr. Jon Canupp, CFI Fire Investigator	B.A., Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1987 N.C. Certified Fire Investigator N.C. Level II Firefighter N.C. Level II Fire Service Instructor N.C. Level III Fire Inspector N.C. Level I Fire & Life Safety Educator N.C. Emergency Medical Technician Jon is the Lead Fire Investigator for the department. In this position, Jon determines the origin and cause of fires, interviews witnesses and suspects, and pursues prosecution for those suspected of setting fires illegally. He also serves as the webmaster for the department. You may contact Jon at (336)773-7969.
Mr. Doug Coble, CFI Fire Investigator	N.C. Certified Fire Investigator N.C. Level II Firefighter N.C. Level II Fire Service Instructor N.C. Level III Fire Inspector Certified N.C. Fire Inspector Instructor N.C. Emergency Medical Technician Doug conducts fire inspections in the territories covered by Engines 6, 16, and Rescue 1. He is also responsible for inspecting the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and Forsyth Medical Center. His responsibilities include being on-call for fire investigations. Call Doug at (336)773-7970.
Mr. Rodney Cooper Fire Inspector	• N.C. Level II Firefighter • N.C. Level II Inspector • N.C. Emergency Medical Technician Rodney is assigned to the downtown area performing fire inspections for the territory covered by Engine 1. He may be reached at (336)399-5094.
Mr. J.D. Councilman Fire Investigator	N.C. Level II Firefighter N.C. Level II Fire Service Instructor N.C. Level III Fire Inspector N.C. Level I Fire & Life Safety Educator N.C. Emergency Medical Technician Jason is assigned to the downtown area performing annual fire inspections for the territory covered by Engine 1. Jason also rotates as an on-call fire investigator. He may be reached at (336)773-7975.
Mr. George Frye, Jr., CFI Fire Investigator	A.B., Journalism, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1974 N.C. Certified Fire Investigator N.C. Level II Firefighter N.C. Level III Fire Inspector N.C. Level III Fire & Life Safety Educator George is assigned to the downtown area performing fire inspections in the territory covered by Engine 1. George also rotates as an on-call fire investigator. He may be reached at (336)773-7952.
Mr. Matt Guffey, CFI Fire Investigator	B.S., Criminal Justice, Appalachian State University, 2004 N.C. Certified Fire Investigator N.C. Level II Firefighter N.C. Level II Fire Service Instructor N.C. Level III Fire Inspector N.C. Level I Fire & Life Safety Educator N.C. Emergency Medical Technician Matt works with Fire Investigations. He determines the origin and cause of fires, interviews witnesses and suspects, and pursues prosecution for those suspected of setting fires illegally. You may contact Matt at (336)773-7967.
Mr. Eric Hutchens Fire Inspector	• A.A.S., Fire Protection Technology, Guilford Technical Community College, 2001 • N.C. Level II Firefighter • N.C. Level II Fire Inspector • N.C. Level I Fire & Life Safety Educator Eric is responsible for conducting inspections in the territory covered by Engine 4. You may contact Eric at (336) 399-3622.
Mr. Zane Poindexter, CFI Fire Investigator	A.A.S., Fire Protection Technology, Guilford Technical Community College, 1996 N.C. Certified Fire Investigator N.C. Level II Firefighter N.C. Level II Fire Service Instructor N.C. Level III Fire Inspector Certified N.C. Fire Inspector Instructor N.C. Level II Fire Officer N.C. Emergency Medical Technician Zane is responsible for conducting inspections in the territories covered by Engines 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 17, and 19. His responsibilities also include being on-call for fire investigations. You may contact Zane at (336)773-7955.
Ms. Casey Reed Fire Inspector	• B.S.E.T. – Fire Safety Engineering Technology, UNC-Charlotte, 2007 • N.C. Level II Fire Inspector Casey is responsible for conducting inspections in the territory covered by Engine 6. Casey can be reached at (336) 399-5102.
Mrs. Angela Sowell, CFI Fire Investigator	B.A., Psychology, Winston-Salem State University, 1995 N.C. Certified Fire Investigator N.C. Level II Firefighter N.C. Level II Fire Service Instructor N.C. Level III Fire Inspector N.C. Level III Fire & Life Safety Educator N.C. Emergency Medical Technician Angela is responsible for inspecting commerical occupancies in the territories covered by Engines 2, 10, 15, 18, and 20, including Hanes Mall. Her responsibilities also include being on-call for fire investigations. She is available at (336)773-7968.
Mr. Keith Sherard Fire Investigator	N.C. Level II Firefighter N.C. Level II Fire Service Instructor N.C. Level III Fire Inspector N.C. Level I Fire & Life Safety Educator N.C. Emergency Medical Technician Keith conducts inspections of new construction and upfits, insuring that all work meets code requirements. Additional duties include plan review and fire investigation when on call. Contact Keith at (336)747-7466.
Mr. Ken West, CFI Fire Investigator	A.A., Police Science, Forsyth Technical Community College, 1979 N.C. Certified Fire Investigator N.C. Level II Firefighter N.C. Level III Fire Inspector Ken primarily reviews construction plans for commercial, multi-family, and industrial building projects. He verifies correct installation of fire protection systems according to the Fire and Building Codes. Ken also rotates as an on-call fire investigator. You may contact Ken at (336)747-7359.