2: Chief Daniel Berlant

Join Host Christopher Baker and guest California State Fire Marshal, Chief Daniel Berlant, as they discuss the foundation and history of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, firefighter mentorship, and leadership lessons on the importance of communication, customer service, consistency, and trust. They also discuss recruitment and retention, as well as career opportunities, and why now is a good time to apply for a position in the California fire service.

Biography:

Daniel Berlant was appointed State Fire Marshal by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 6, 2023.

Chief Berlant began his career with CAL FIRE in 2001 as a volunteer and was hired in 2002 in the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit. In 2005, he began working in the CAL FIRE Communications Office as a Fire Prevention Specialist in Sacramento.

After several fire sieges and extensive work in the public information function, he was promoted in 2008 to Department Information Officer and was tasked with serving as CAL FIRE's main spokesperson. In 2014, he was promoted to the Chief of Public Information overseeing the Sacramento and Region staff of the Communications Office. In 2016, Chief Berlant was promoted to Assistant Deputy Director at the Office of the State Fire Marshal over the Wildfire Planning & Engineering, and Fire Engineering & Investigations Divisions.

In 2022, Chief Berlant was promoted to Deputy Director of Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation, which was new to the Department after being established through the passage of Assembly Bill 9 (2021), which created the Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation Division within the Office State Fire Marshal.

In January 2023, Chief Berlant was designated Acting State Fire Marshal, in addition, continuing to function as the Deputy Director over Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation.

Chief Berlant holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis.

Show Notes: https://thebakerpodcast.com/blog/chief-daniel-berlant