Charles Edward Lundfelt is an American fire chief and educator whose career included fire protection, paramedic service, fire-science instruction, and leadership in departments in Alaska and Idaho. He served as fire chief in Juneau, Valdez, and Moscow, and participated in statewide fire-service organizations.
Background
Charles Edward Lundfelt was born on March 7, 1944, in New York City, to Charles Edward Lundfelt and Marie Clotilde Reilly Lundfelt. His later career was centered in Alaska, where he combined construction, military service, emergency medical work, fire protection, and education.
He served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1969 and attained the rank of sergeant. After military service, he worked in construction and pursued study connected with the University of Alaska and Tanana Valley Community College, eventually developing a career in fire science and public safety.
Education
Lundfelt studied at the University of Alaska in 1965 and later attended Tanana Valley Community College from 1979. The University of Alaska system, established in 1917, developed higher education and research programs suited to the state's large geography and distinctive Arctic and sub-Arctic environment. Tanana Valley Community College, based in Fairbanks, provided vocational and community-college education, including fire-science training relevant to Alaska's municipal and volunteer departments.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks catalog for 1989–1990 listed Lundfelt among part-time Fire Science instructors, connecting his education and professional work with the state's developing fire-service training system.
Career
Lundfelt served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1969 and attained the rank of sergeant. In civilian life he became owner and superintendent of Dunrite Construction Systems in Fairbanks from 1974 to 1980, while also participating in community and educational activities.
He worked as a firefighter and paramedic with the Clear Air Force Station Fire Department in Anderson from 1980 to 1981. He then served as fire chief of the Chena Goldstream Fire Department in Fairbanks from 1978 to 1981 and continued as fire chief of the North Star Volunteer Fire Department from 1981. North Star was part of the volunteer fire-service network serving communities around Fairbanks, where departments depended on trained personnel and community participation.
Lundfelt also taught fire service for the Alaska Department of Education from 1981. The University of Alaska Fairbanks catalog for 1989–1990 identified him as a part-time Fire Science instructor, reflecting the role of community colleges and vocational programs in preparing firefighters for Alaska's geographically dispersed communities.
He later served as fire chief of the Valdez Fire Department from 1989 to 1991. Valdez's fire protection responsibilities included a port and oil-shipping environment, and in 1991 Lundfelt publicly addressed the risks posed by fires aboard tankers in Prince William Sound. He was president of the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association during 1989–1991 and remained involved in statewide fire-service issues.
Lundfelt was chief of Capital City Fire and Rescue in Juneau from 1991 to 1998. The department was formed in 1992 by bringing Juneau-area fire departments under one organization. During his tenure, he served as fire marshal and spoke publicly about major incidents, including the 1996 fire aboard the cruise ship Universe Explorer.
In 1998 he became fire chief of the Moscow Fire Department in Idaho. His work there included department planning, fire investigation, training, equipment and station issues, and cooperation with university student firefighters. He was described as having come to Moscow after retiring from his Juneau fire-chief position.
Achievements
Lundfelt served as fire chief of Capital City Fire and Rescue in Juneau from 1991 to 1998 during the creation and early development of the consolidated department.
He provided public leadership on fire protection and volunteer-firefighter issues as president of the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association during 1989–1991.
He contributed to fire-service education as an instructor for the Alaska Department of Education and as a part-time Fire Science instructor associated with the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
As Juneau fire chief, he provided public information during the 1996 Universe Explorer cruise-ship fire, a major marine emergency in Alaska's Inside Passage.
Religion
Lundfelt was associated with the Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers, a Christian tradition that developed in seventeenth-century England around direct religious experience, freedom of conscience, and the equality of worshippers.
Quaker communities have commonly emphasized peace, integrity, simplicity, community, and service. The affiliation is documented in his biographical record, although specific details of his religious practice are not recorded.
Politics
Lundfelt was identified as a Democrat. The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States and has historically included traditions emphasizing representative government, public services, labor interests, and community-oriented civic programs.
His documented professional life was in fire protection, emergency medical response, education, and public safety rather than elected office. The available record establishes the affiliation but does not document particular campaigns, offices, or policy positions.
Views
Lundfelt's documented public statements reflect a practical philosophy of fire protection centered on preparedness, training, interdepartmental cooperation, and protection of volunteers. His professional comments also show attention to the distinctive hazards of Alaska's remote communities, ports, oil-shipping facilities, and marine environment.
Membership
Lundfelt participated in professional and civic organizations connected with fire protection, education, and community service. His documented affiliations included the Tanana Valley Community College Fire Science Advisory Board, the International Association of Fire Service Instructors, and the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association.
His statewide fire-service participation included service as president of the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association during 1989–1991. He also served as president of the Greater Fairbanks Head Start Association from 1974 to 1975, linking his civic activity with an organization providing early-childhood education and family services.
Served as a member of the advisory board.
Tanana Valley Community College Fire Science Advisory Board
,
United States
1979
Participated as a member in a professional organization devoted to fire-service instruction.
International Association of Fire Service Instructors
,
United States
Served as president during 1989–1991.
Alaska Fire Chiefs Association
,
United States
1989 - 1991
Served as president.
Greater Fairbanks Head Start Association
,
United States
1974 - 1975
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
During his fire-service career, Lundfelt publicly emphasized the importance of training and protecting volunteer firefighters. In a 1993 statement concerning Alaska workers' compensation legislation, he described volunteer training and emergency response as essential forms of public service.
Connections
Lundfelt was the son of Charles Edward Lundfelt and Marie Clotilde Reilly Lundfelt. He married Abigail Jane Cheney Lundfelt on August 21, 1966; they divorced in 1973. They had one child, Christian August Lundfelt.
On March 9, 1973, he married Cathi Laird Carr Lundfelt. The available record identifies his family relationships but does not provide further biographical details about his spouses or child.
Father:
Charles Edward Lundfelt
Mother:
Marie Clotilde Reilly Lundfelt
Spouse:
Abigail Jane Cheney Lundfelt
Married Lundfelt on August 21, 1966; the marriage ended in divorce in 1973.
Spouse:
Cathi Laird Carr Lundfelt
Married Lundfelt on March 9, 1973.
child:
Christian August Lundfelt
References
Capital City Fire and Rescue History
Provides the history of Juneau fire chiefs and identifies Charles Lundfelt as chief of Capital City Fire and Rescue from 1991 to 1998.
Alaska Legislature House Bill 221 Committee Bill File
Contains a statement identifying Lundfelt as a past president of the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association and documenting his public position on volunteer-firefighter workers' compensation.
