Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens announced that the Georgia State Fire Association has recognized an employee with his office the 2018 Fire Safety Educator of the Year during their annual conference in August.

Karla Richter, a fire educator in Hudgens’ State Fire Marshal’s Division and a resident of Gwinnett County, received the honor for her dedication and commitment to educating Georgia residents about the significance of fire safety and prevention. Richter was nominated for the award by her state peers in the
fire service.

“The recognition of Richter is a well‐deserved honor,” Commissioner Hudgens said. “Her passion and education advocacies has increased public awareness about fire safety issues across Georgia.”

Richter began her career as a fire safety educator in 2003 with the Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services before becoming a member of Hudgens’ staff in 2012. Over the past several years she has conducted over 232 training courses covering various areas of fire safety, fire prevention, and community fire risk reduction.

The Georgia Fire Service Conference Awards were held at on August 18, at the Dalton Convention Center in Dalton, Ga. The awards were sponsored by the Georgia State Firefighters Association and the
Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs.