Malcolm Bufkin will take over the reigns of the Breckenridge Fire Department after being appointed as Fire Chief by Interim City Manager Linda Knight.
Bufkin's move to the position was part of a succession plan that was put in place by the late Roger McMullen, who served as Fire Chief for more than 30 years.
"This plan was already in place when both Roger and George (Rodgers) became ill," Knight said. "They were both instrumental in the direction that our fire department wants to go in and to have Malcolm become the new chief made it even more special because it was both of their wishes."
Bufkin has served more than 25 years on the Breckenridge Fire Department, including a stint as the Assistant Fire Chief in July 2010.
Bufkin served in the department under both McMullen and Rodgers, who were longtime firemen and were instrumental in elevating the standards of the local department.
"Between Roger and George...we lost 76 years of experience," Bufkin said. "With our department now, we have more than 100 years of experience and we will continue to move in a positive direction."
Bufkin said the direction he wants to go with the department is to help the public become more in touch with their duties and continue to keep Breckenridge a safe place to live.
"We want to become more in touch with the public," he said. "We want to educate them on the importance of fire safety and what they can do to prevent a fire from happening."
Bufkin, who started with the department in 1984, holds several certifications, including Homeland Security, National Fire Inspection training, HazMat, and Hazwoper.
Bufkin also has The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (Commission) training and is a certified peace officer.
He plans to complete his Arson Investigator training in the upcoming months.
During his time as the Assistant Fire Chief, Bufkin was highly responsible for the animal control department and was instrumental in getting the department quarantine certified.
Bufkin, who served as a captain with the BFD for five years, will be the city's third fire chief since 2010.
McMullen served the department 44 years and Rodgers, who worked almost 30 years with McMullen, served as his successor for 18 months.
Both men succumbed to battles with cancer.
Bufkin's move to the position was part of a succession plan that was put in place by the late Roger McMullen, who served as Fire Chief for more than 30 years.
"This plan was already in place when both Roger and George (Rodgers) became ill," Knight said. "They were both instrumental in the direction that our fire department wants to go in and to have Malcolm become the new chief made it even more special because it was both of their wishes."
Bufkin has served more than 25 years on the Breckenridge Fire Department, including a stint as the Assistant Fire Chief in July 2010.
Bufkin served in the department under both McMullen and Rodgers, who were longtime firemen and were instrumental in elevating the standards of the local department.
"Between Roger and George...we lost 76 years of experience," Bufkin said. "With our department now, we have more than 100 years of experience and we will continue to move in a positive direction."
Bufkin said the direction he wants to go with the department is to help the public become more in touch with their duties and continue to keep Breckenridge a safe place to live.
"We want to become more in touch with the public," he said. "We want to educate them on the importance of fire safety and what they can do to prevent a fire from happening."
Bufkin, who started with the department in 1984, holds several certifications, including Homeland Security, National Fire Inspection training, HazMat, and Hazwoper.
Bufkin also has The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (Commission) training and is a certified peace officer.
He plans to complete his Arson Investigator training in the upcoming months.
During his time as the Assistant Fire Chief, Bufkin was highly responsible for the animal control department and was instrumental in getting the department quarantine certified.
Bufkin, who served as a captain with the BFD for five years, will be the city's third fire chief since 2010.
McMullen served the department 44 years and Rodgers, who worked almost 30 years with McMullen, served as his successor for 18 months.
Both men succumbed to battles with cancer.
