Donald P. Bliss has been the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal since August 1,
1992. As State Fire Marshal, he oversees fire investigations and fire and building code
enforcement throughout New Hampshire. In addition, the State Fire Marshal administers the
state’s modular building program and the statewide fire incident reporting system. He is
responsible for the coordination of state agency responses to hazardous materials incidents.
On July 1, 2002, the NH Office of Emergency Management was merged with the State Fire
Marshal’s Office to form the Division of Fire Safety & Emergency Management. As director of
the new division, Bliss is responsible for overseeing the state’s emergency response
planning for natural and man-made disasters, including terrorism. The Division of Fire Safety
& Emergency Management is coordinating disaster recovery and mitigation efforts and
administers the state’s Emergency Operations Plan and the Radiological Emergency
Response Plan. Bliss currently chairs the Governor’s Commission on Preparedness and
Security and is Governor Shaheen’s point-of-contact to the White House Office of Homeland
Security.