Bradley County Building Inspector Makes State History

Bradley County Building Inspector Tina Rice Bishop has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Fire Safety Inspectors Association. The election took place at the TFSIA’s 42nd Annual Conference in Murfreesboro on November 5th and 6th. Rice-Bishop becomes the first building official to be nominated and elected by the general membership to the TFSIA Board since it was organized in 1967!

In learning of her selection to the board Rice-Bishop said “I am humbled by this honor. You won't meet a finer group of people. They have dedicated their lives to our protection from fire and I am very proud to serve on the Board.”

The Tennessee Fire Safety Inspectors Association was formed more than 40 years ago to encourage high professional standards of conduct among Fire Safety Inspectors and continually strive to improve inspection procedures. It cooperates with the State Fire Marshal’s Office as well as fire departments and law enforcement agencies across Tennessee.

Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis commended Rice-Bishop on her selection and said “I am pleased that once again a Bradley County employee has been recognized by a state organization. Tina is very qualified and I’m sure she will bring a fresh perspective to the Fire Safety Inspectors Association.”

Tina Rice-Bishop was hired by Mayor Davis as an assistant to the building inspector in 2001. She became a state certified building inspector in 2002. In order to maintain her state certification she is required to complete 36 hours of continuing education units from State certified classes or programs every 3 years. Some of these classes are offered by the TFSIA and that is how Rice-Bishop became initially involved with the Fire Inspectors Association. She says she was so inspired by the comradery and dedication of the men and women of the fire service that she decided to become a certified fire inspector in addition to being a certified building inspector. She obtained her fire inspector certification in 2005.