Mark Wendelsdorf,
Western Fire Chiefs Association President
Fire Chief
Caldwell Fire Department
Caldwell, ID 83605

Chief Wendelsdorf started his career in a high school cadet program with the Homewood Fire Department, located just south of Chicago, Illinois. After serving 5 years as a Firefighter/Paramedic with Homewood he moved to Flossmoor Fire Department and served as the Training Officer for the Department. In April of 1991 Chief Wendelsdorf moved to Caldwell Idaho, and served as the Assistant Chief responsible for Training and Hazardous Materials until 2004 when he was appointed Fire Chief.

 

Chief Wendelsdorf has an Associate degree in Fire Science, Bachelors in Fire Service Administration and a Masters in Public Administration. He has completed the Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) at the National Fire Academy and has also been awarded the Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD) in 2003 and again in 2006.

 

Chief Wendelsdorf serves on the Idaho State Interoperability Executive Council representing the Idaho Fire Chiefs; Idaho Hazardous Materials State Plan Planning Committee, and numerous other committees. Chief Wendelsdorf is happily married to his sole mate Kim; has three children, 2 daughters and 1 son who is a volunteer firefighter; and 2 grandchildren, both future firefighter. At the Annual Membership meeting held in Denver, Colorado, on August 2, 2012, Mark was elected to serve as WFCA President after a two year term as Vice President.