IRVINE, Calif.—As the world nears the end of a grim year, indelible memories will remain for Orange County’s top firefighter, who led crews through devastating wildfires while navigating a pandemic. Two particular dates stand out for Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Chief Brian Fennessy: the day the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 a pandemic, and the afternoon two firefighters were gravely injured on the job. The former called upon him to exercise great foresight in planning, the latter brought forth his compassion and sense of responsibility for others. Silverado Fire On Oct. 26, a fire erupted near Silverado Canyon that burned 12,466 acres and forced thousands to evacuate. Fennessy was working at the command center that afternoon when a colleague approached with dire news: two hand crew members had been injured. “Those are things that are frozen in your mind,” Fennessy told The Epoch Times in an interview reflecting …