On Sept. 12, Fire Chief John
Morley will retire; having been with Big Bear Lake Fire Department since
1980. Starting his career as a Firefighter, Morley became Captain/Acting
Fire Marshall in 1988 and became Fire Chief in 2005.
Morley has supported our
community as a committed and dedicated fire professional for 28 years of
service. In his capacity as Fire Chief, Morley has been instrumental in
creating many defensible space programs and ordnances. Among the
ordinances enacted recently are the Wood Shake Roof, Native Brush and
Shrub Reduction, and the Chief helped launch the neighborhood chipping
programs with the Fire Safe Council. The Neighborhood Chipping program
assists homeowners with the removal of fire fuels which started with
residents bringing their yard waste to Big Bear Lake sites and grown to
the current program, where the yard waste is picked up at the curb.
Serving on both the Mountain
Area Safety Task Force and Mountain Mutual Aid, Morley has overseen many
changes in the valley. Through education and outreach program, residents
have a much better awareness of what needs to be removed and how fire
works. In 2001, Chief Morley received the San Bernardino County
Firefighter of the Year, as well as the Rotary Eagle of Excellence Award
in 2004. As the first paramedic certified in San Bernardino County, he
has coordinated and implemented the Fire Department’s paramedic program.
Congratulations Fire Chief
Morley!
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