David J. Purchase, EFOChief Purchase served 38 years in the fire service, retiring in 2013 after 14 years as fire chief for the city of Norton Shores, where he resides with his wife, Kari. He has been a certified fire instructor for 29 years and is currently an Instructor II, having taught over 400 fire officer programs around the state of Michigan since 1996. An EFO graduate of the National Fire Academy, Chief Purchase has received various recognitions throughout his career, including the Michigan Jaycees, State Firefighter of the Year, Fire Service Instructor of the Year presented by the Michigan Fire Service Instructors Association and the Michigan Association Fire Chiefs, and Fire Chief of the Year. He served for 10 years as a governor appointee on the Michigan Firefighters Training Council. He is a past president of both the Western Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs and the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs and past vice president of the Michigan Fire Service Instructors Association. Chief Purchase has presented programs at Fire Service conferences around the country, including VCOS, FDIC, FDIC East, Ohio State Fire School, Michigan and Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs, and Fire House Expo. He has been a contributing author and/or editorial board member for Jones & Bartlett Learning publications, including Chief Fire Officer’s Desk Reference (Training chapter), Fire Service Instructor and Hazardous Materials curriculum development, and Chief Officer.'
