Deputy Fire Chief Tony Michel will be switching offices as the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Board has appointed him to the rank of Fire Chief starting on November 1st.  “The appointment of Chief Michel is well deserved, he is very enthusiastic about the opportunity and welcomes the challenge. I am very confident that he will provide a high level of service and be a role model for others” states retiring Fire Chief Nick Pavone.  The vacated Deputy Fire Chief position will remain unfilled until which time the regional reorganizing and consolidation efforts are agreed upon.

 Local 4349 would like to thank the community for it's donations last April 21st.  Rancho Santa Fe firefighters collected $10,261.85 in this years Annual Burn Institute's Boot Drive.  The proceeds benefit Burn Institute fire and burn prevention education programs and burn survivor support programs such as Camp Beyond The Scars for burn-injured children. All of the money raised through the boot drive stays in San Diego County. 

After 31+ years of service for the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District, Fire Chief Nick Pavone announces his retirement on October 31st, 2010.  "I am very grateful for the opportunities that I have been afforded during my tenure here at RSF. We are so fortunate to work in an organization and community that appreciates its employees for their commitment and dedication. I am also very proud to be part of the tradition of excellence that has been part of the hallmark of this District," states Pavone.  As this time, it is unknown who Chief Pavone's successor will be.

Fairbanks Ranch will see big changes to its fire station in 2010.  As the 40 year old station is demolished, the current crews protecting Fairbanks watch on from across the street.  Even though the old station contained many old memories, the district is glad to see it go and be replaced by a new, state of the art, highly functional station that can serve the community better.  The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District has purchased land to the East of the old station site to expand onto which will provide employee parking, an emergency generator, hose drying rack, and entrance for a "Pull though" apparatus bay.  Living quarters will be located on the 2nd story, and yes, this station will have a pole.  Construction is slated to begin within a few months and last around a year and a half.  The current, temporary station protecting the area is located behind the Horizon Christian Fellowship Church on El Apajo.

            In a step towards consolidation, the four North County Fire Agencies of Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar met at Seaside Beach parking lot on October 15, 2009 to sign a historic agreement that changes the way their agencies are managed.  Starting on that same date, Encinitas Fire Department will begin providing management services, and Rancho Santa Fe will provide battalion chiefs for all the areas.  This comes at time when the stressed economy has prompted cities and fire boards to research all ideas that would cut operating costs.  Annually, Encinitas will save $282,300; Solana Beach, $608,400; Del Mar, $173,600; and Rancho Santa Fe, $367,500 compared with the cost of separate management teams, said Chief Muir of Encinitas Fire Department.  The arrangement will provide more consistent service, improved communication and a quicker response time for the duty chiefs, Muir said. Encinitas Councilman Jerome Stocks also noted that if all goes well, the agencies might consider merging fire departments entirely.  No fire positions were lost in this endeavor.  Solana Beach and Del Mar have already been contracting out their fire management to Rancho Santa Fe Fire District on a temporary basis for nearly 3 years now.  Each agency will retain its own identity with the exception of the Rancho Santa Fe battalion Chief’s vehicle that has now been labeled with all four agency symbols and lists the communities it is serving.