Starting this summer, fires burning in Santa Barbara County will face staunch opposition from a new county fire chief.
At a special meeting on June 10, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors announced, after a nationwide search, that it has appointed Michael Dyer as fire chief, effective Aug. 3.
“The Board of Supervisors had a very difficult choice, but feels Chief Dyer’s experience and leadership skills make him the right choice to lead our county fire department,” Joe Centeno, 5th District Supervisor and chairman, said in a press release from the county.
Dyer will replace interim Fire Chief Tom Franklin, who stepped in for retiring Fire Chief John Scherrei in November 2008.
Since 2006, Dyer has served as the chief deputy for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The position called for him to sometimes act as fire chief, and oversee the department’s emergency operations, including during the Southern Californian fires of 2007.
Dyer boasts more than 30 years of firefighting experience in first-responder, management, and executive capacities. He’s also a hazardous materials specialist certified by the California State Fire Marshal’s Office, and a certified paramedic.
In a recent interview with the Sun, Dyer shared some of his goals for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
His first priority as chief, he said, is to protect lives, property, and the environment. He plans to focus on improving communication among the county fire department, city fire departments, and local law enforcement agencies to become a “regional fire department.”
Dyer said he’ll draw on his experience at the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which in 2006 received an inter-agency award for effective communication between the fire department, Sheriff’s department, animal services, and local law enforcement branches.
“That was something that had never been done before,” he said.
Dyer also wants to address the ongoing funding shortfalls in the state and county.
“We need to prepare for that,” he said. “I need to sit down and take an in-depth look at the budget [and] look at revenue streams and opportunities to bring revenue into the county.
“We have to look at it from a business standpoint,” he added. “We are a service-oriented agency. We’re not getting any cheaper, and taxpayers expect to get the best bang for their buck.”
Along with analyzing the budget, Dyer said he also wants to evaluate the department’s response times and combat methods for fires “so we can see what we can do better in the future.”
As chief, Dyer said he wants to continue promoting pre-fire season planning, both in the department and in the community.
“I envision Santa Barbara as Sparta,” he said. “It’s about Santa Barbara firefighters having the highest level of training possible.”
Dyer explained he wants to make sure Santa Barbara County firefighters are “the experts” when it comes to fighting fires—especially blazes in hard-to-reach locations—and use the most modern fire retardant technology possible, including foams and gels.
Another important tool for fighting fires, he said, is educating the public and promoting public safety.
“Living in fire zones, we all know that it’s dangerous, but we don’t accept that it’s a hazard,” he explained. “How many people actually have three days’ worth of drinking water on hand?”
Overall, Dyer said he can’t wait to get to start serving the people of Santa Barbara County.
“I’m very excited and honored. I’ll remember the trust of the [Board of Supervisors] and the community every day I go to work,” he said.
Contact Staff Writer Amy Asman at aasman@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 18-25, 2009.
