Glenn Gaines

Like so many of you, I was saddened to learn of the passing yesterday (Sunday) of Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines. Chief Gaines collapsed while working in the yard of his Loudoun County. Virginia home.

Glenn Gaines was well thought of in his work at the U.S. Fire Administration and his time as fire chief in Fairfax County, Virginia where he had a 35-year career.

I first became aware of the name Glenn Gaines from his 1978 book for R.J. Brady Company, “Firefighting operations in garden apartments and townhouses”. He had done some of his research in Prince George’s County, specifically Oxon Hill, where I had been a firefighter.

I got to really know Glenn when he became fire chief in Fairfax County. We had many conversations about the fire service and music. He was a drummer.

But Glenn’s favorite in my family was not me. Glenn and my wife had lots of long conversations on Hillary’s visits to Emmitsburg. She thought of Glenn as a beautiful and gentle man. We will both miss him.