Chip Prather

Charles Prather (born 1953) is an American former firefighter who became the second Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) in California, United States.

Early life Charles Prather is the son of the late Charles W. Prather, longtime chief of the University of California, Davis Fire Department from the 1950s to the 1980s.

The younger Prather began his career in 1970 as a seasonal firefighter with the California Department of Forestry, now known as California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire).

Career Prather was named Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority on October 1, 1997.

Prather's leadership was characterized by direct community involvement. He frequently addressed criticism directly, responding to online critics and answering complaints from firefighters in person. He received numerous accolades from state and federal agencies as well as a resolution approved by the Orange County Board of Directors on June 25, 2009. Its construction was a complex project involving the efforts of many stakeholders.

Prather oversaw the Federal Emergency Management Agency Urban search and rescue Task Force (CA-TF5), one of eight in California and 28 in the United States. In November 2008, Prather expanded this program by adding the first nationally certified canine and handler team in Orange County.

Safety, prevention, and education Prather has helped Orange County's cities become some of the safest in the US. Irvine for example, is served by over eight stations, and was ranked the number one safest city in America for four years in a row (for a population over 100,000).