Paso Robles hires interim fire chief

The City of Paso Robles announced the hiring of an interim Fire Chief for the Emergency Services Department on Friday.

Phillip Garcia will serve as chief while the city conducts a national search to fill the role left vacant by the retirement of former Fire Chief Ken Johnson.

Garcia has been acting as Fire Chief since March 2, overlapping with outgoing chief Johnson to ensure a smooth transition.

Garcia is a native Californian, born in Los Angeles. He lives with his wife and youngest son in Laguna Niguel, and has been a resident of Orange County for 35 years.

Garcia has his Masters degree in Public Administration from California State University Long Beach, and his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Redlands. He also has a Certificate in Fire Protection from the University of California, Irvine.

Garcia has been in the fire service for over 30 years, including time as part of the Culver City Fire Department. He has also served as a Team Leader for the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

In a press release from the City of Paso Robles, City Manager Tom Frutchey said of Garcia, “We are fortunate to have a chief on our team who has such a diverse background in fire service.”

The search for Paso Robles’ permanent fire chief is projected to conclude in September.