HAMILTON COUNTY FIRE TRAINING / HAZMAT
Fire Training Staff
Chief Jody Clift
Hamilton County Fire Training Instructor
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Chief Jody Clift began his career with Hamilton County in 1993 as an Emergency Medical Services’ Emergency Medical Technician advancing to Paramedic in 1995. He transferred to Hamilton County Fire Training in 2001 serving as a Fire Training Lieutenant and promoted to Fire Training Captain in 2019.
Jody leads the Fire Training Team in developing, managing, and conducting various levels of critical fire training for area municipal and volunteer firefighters. He steers the Hazardous Materials Department’s operations and training to ensure the department’s response capabilities for Hamilton County, Tennessee Homeland Security District III, and Tri-State Mutual Aid Association surrounding communities. Additional responsibilities include; managing the Unmanned Aircraft Team, administering County emergency communications systems, and liaison to the County’s volunteer fire and rescue departments.
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Chief Christopher "CJ" Davis
Hamilton County Fire Training Instructor
Christopher “CJ” Davis serves as the Chief of Special Operations for Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management, HazMat Training Officer and Firefighter II Instructor. He began his Emergency Services career in 1997 as a volunteer with Bradley County Rescue Explorer Troop. After graduating High School, he volunteered directly with Bradley County Fire Rescue and was later hired as a full time fire fighter in 2010 where he attained the rank of Lieutenant and served as the training officer for his Battalion. Additionally, he served as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician with Bradley County Emergency Medical Services. CJ’s current duties include ensuring the Hamilton County Hazardous Materials Department’s volunteers and resources maintain constant response readiness to respond on hazardous materials incidents throughout Hamilton County, Tennessee Homeland Security District 3, and the participating jurisdictions of the Tri-State Mutual Aid Association.
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Captain Patrick Kellam
Hamilton County Fire Training Instructor
Patrick Kellam has been around the fire service since he was 2 years old. At the age of 14, Patrick joined an explorer (junior firefighter) program to learn more about the job, and after 4 years there he was able to attend the Hamilton County fire academy as a volunteer and receive his Firefighter I certification. Since then, he has continued to volunteer and is now a Station Captain and training coordinator for his volunteer department. At the age of 19, Patrick began his career as a paid industrial firefighter, and since has more than 11 years as a career firefighter with three departments. Patrick also certifications in fire suppression, technical rescue, and tactical medicine as well as an Advanced EMT license and an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science Technology.
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Lieutenant Donovan Dicola
Hamilton County Fire Training Instructor
Donovan Dicola began my fire career as a volunteer in 2008 with Bradley County Fire Rescue. In 2010, he was hired full time firefighter with BCFR, promoted as a Lieutenant and served as a Training Officer. In 2020, he obtained my EMT license and worked part time for Bradley County EMS.
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Donovan also has years of experience in technical rescue such as swift water rescue, dive rescue, and Haz-Mat Technician. He is a member with TN-Task Force 4 USAR team here in Chattanooga.
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