Perimeter Solutions announced on January 31st that it has hired Jim Karels as its new Agency Liaison. Karels succeeds Ron Raley, who served as the Agency Liaison for Perimeter Solutions from 2004 until his retirement in late 2023. Karels has worked in wildland fire and forest management for more than 45 years, spending parts of his career with the US Forest Service (USFS) and the Florida Forest Service. He is joining Perimeter Solutions from the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), where he served as the National Fire Director.
As Agency Liaison, Karels serves as the face of the organization to fire management agencies around the world. Building on relationships he has built within the industry over the years, he will educate agencies on the advantages of Perimeter Solutions’ wildland firefighting products and services.
“We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Jim’s extensive background in wildland firefighting and forest management. He is uniquely positioned to build on the strong relationships we have with fire management agencies around the world,” says Shannon Horn, Business Director, North America Retardant and Services. “We look forward to the positive impact Jim will have leading agency engagement and promoting the benefits of our products and services.”
Milestones from Karels’ career include serving as the original steering committee chair for the Complex Incident Management Course for Florida, a role he held for ten years. The processes they implemented for complex incident management during his tenure are still used today. In 2013, he led the investigation into the Yarnell (Arizona) Fire, a tragic event where 19 Hotshots perished after an unexpected shift in the weather pattern cut off their escape route from the fire. More recently, he served on a small policy group that collaborated with the USFS to develop more effective burn policies following the 2022 wildfire season.
“As National Fire Director, I supported firefighters on fires all over the country; however, as a Florida resident, I have witnessed the alarming increase in wildfires here and in the Eastern United States. This firsthand experience gives me a comprehensive national perspective that will help me to ensure that Perimeter Solutions continues to deliver safe, impactful solutions to wildfires nationwide,” says Karels.
For more information about Perimeter Solutions and our comprehensive line of wildland firefighting products and equipment, visit https://www.perimeter-solutions.com/en/wildland-fire-safety/.
About Perimeter Solutions
Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Perimeter Solutions (NYSE: PRM) is a premier global solutions provider, producing high-quality firefighting products and lubricant additives. The company develops products that impact critically important issues of life – issues where there often is no room for error and the job doesn’t offer second chances. At Perimeter, we characterize the solutions we develop as ‘Trusted Solutions that Save’ – because it underscores what we are trying to accomplish for our customers and the world at large. Perimeter Solutions produces major brands known throughout the world like PHOS-CHEK® and FIRE-TROL® retardant, foam concentrates and gel products; AUXQUIMIA® and SOLBERG® firefighting foam concentrates; and BIOGEMA® extinguishing agents and retardants. For more info on how we use our experience, responsibility, and integrity to deliver trusted solutions that help improve firefighting performance, visit: www.perimeter-solutions.com.
