A Lake Milton resident and Craig Beach Fire Chief has been named the State Fire Marshal's Fire Prevention Bureau Chief.

Anita Metheny was sworn into the position on June 27 and is the first female to be named to the position.

"Anita's appointment as the new Bureau Chief is a testament to her exceptional leadership skills and unwavering dedication to public safety," State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon said. "I have full confidence she will lead our bureau towards even greater achievements in safeguarding Ohioans."

According to the agency, Metheny has an associates degree in Fire Science and a bachelor's degree in Fire and Emergency Management.

She first served in the fire service as a volunteer in 1990. She most recently served as the fire chief for the Craig Beach Volunteer Fire Department.

At the State Fire Marshal, she has served as the fire prevention bureau's assistant chief since 2017.

"I'm excited to move forward with the talented and driven staff in the Fire Prevention Bureau," Metheny said. "We are committed to sharing critical information to Ohio's Fire Service to reduce loss of life and property throughout the state."

The State Fire Marshal's Fire Prevention Bureau promotes awareness of fire safety practices through education programs and initiatives across Ohio. They work with the fire service in collecting data from fire incidents and sharing it with other agencies to target education programs. Fire prevention educators actively engage the fire service in promoting education to students and promote this message through extensive outreach efforts.