BAKERSFIELD, CA (Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011 at 6:50 p.m.)—A press release this evening hs announced the retirement of Kern County Fire Chief Nick Dunn. He is credited as being helpful to the community of Pine Mountain in their 10-year struggle to achieve a firefighter-paramedic program in KCFD Station 58. Here is the press release by the Kern County Administrative Officer, John Nilon:

Kern County Fire Chief Nick Dunn announced he is retiring today for health reasons after a 30-
year career with Kern County. Deputy Chief Brian Marshall has been appointed as interim Kern County
Fire Chief by the Board of Supervisors.

Dunn began service with the Kern County Fire Department as a firefighter in 1981 after serving
for three years with the Delano and Bakersfield fire departments. Since his appointment as Fire Chief in
2009, he has led the county’s emergency response to eight of California’s largest wildfire incidents
including lightning storms in September that ignited more than 50 simultaneous blazes in the Kern
County mountains.

“I am proud of my firefighters and the job they have done to protect Kern County under some
very tough conditions,” Dunn said in announcing his decision. “But after 33 years of fighting fires, it’s in
the best interest of my health and my family for someone else to take the reins of the Kern County Fire
Department. I love this department and the county we protect, and I want to thank everyone who has
supported the Department during my career.”
 

This is part of the October 21, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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