James Fortner currently serves as the Assistant Chief for the FCVFD as well as a member of the Board of Trustees. Chief Fortner has been involved in the volunteer fire service since joining the Bays Springs Fire Department in Mississippi in 1987. After moving to Arlington in late 1991, he joined the Arlington Volunteer Fire Department in 1992 and served as its Chief for several years before he decided to join the FCVFD in late 2002.

Chief Fortner has completed certifications in Firefighter II, Officer I, Instructor II, and Emergency Medical Technician Basic. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University in Agricultural and Extension Education.

Following the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, Chief Fortner worked at the incident site for approximately eight days managing volunteer staffing to assist with the response and recovery efforts. In September 2005, he deployed as a member of an interagency saw crew to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to assist with recovery efforts following the landfall of Hurricane Katrina.

While not working on fire department issues, Chief Fortner works in the Fire and Aviation Management section of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. He serves as the Cooperative Fire Program Manager for the Forest Service. He is currently certified as a wildland firefighter and deploys on wildland fire assignments as needed.

Chief Fortner has received notable recognition for his volunteer service, including the Outstanding Volunteer Award from Arlington County, 2001 Arlington Inter-Service Club Council “Man of the Year” Award, and the 2001 USDA Secretary’s Honor Award for his service at the Pentagon following the September 11, 2001 attack.

Chief Fortner currently resides in Arlington County with his wife Charlsia and their two children, Audrey and Charles.