El Dorado County Fire welcomes new fire chief

The El Dorado County Fire Protection District has selected Brad Gates as its next fire chief. This comes as the district completes its annexation with the Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District. With the retirement of Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Chief Matt Gallagher and the upcoming retirement of El Dorado County Fire Chief Tim Cordero, the governing boards of both districts determined the newly unified organization required a modern, dynamic leadership structure designed to meet the growing operational, administrative and strategic demands of a large, all-risk public safety agency. This model reflects the increasing complexity of today's fire districts and positions the organization for long-term sustainability and regional leadership. After a thoughtful nationwide recruitment process, Gates was selected unanimously. To ensure continuity and stability, Chief Gates will work alongside Chief Cordero during a structured transition period over the next several months. This collaborative transition is designed to preserve institutional knowledge, maintain operational consistency and support a seamless leadership transfer for personnel and the community, said officials. "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the firefighters, the fire district and the communities we protect as Fire Chief over the past several years," Cordero said. "I commend the boards of Diamond Springs Fire Protection District and El Dorado County Fire Protection District for their thoughtful and diligent work in selecting the next fire chief. Their commitment to identifying the best candidate ensures that our mission — providing the highest level of service, professionalism and protection for our citizens — will continue and grow under new leadership." Gates has served the El Dorado County Fire District for three years. Before joining the district, he worked for the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) as a Senior Emergency Services Coordinator assigned to the Disaster Medical Services Division Plans and Training Unit, where he was involved in statewide policy, operations and program development. He provided leadership support during major incidents including wildland fires, hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic. Before his state service, Chief Gates spent 17 years with American Medical Response in Contra Costa County, serving in management and field operations leadership roles. His experience includes disaster response coordination, logistics oversight, training and exercise development, and collaborative system integration with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. Gates holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Government Policy and Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University. He is credentialed as a Chief EMS Officer (CEMSO) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He has numerous Emergency Management/Fire Service qualifications and is a recipient of the California EMS Authority Meritorious Service Medal. Chief Gates has lived in Rescue for seven years with his wife, Breena, and children Charleston and Tucker. In response to the selection, Gates said he is excited to take on this role. "I am honored by the board's confidence and the opportunity to serve the residents of El Dorado County in this role. This district plays a critical part in safeguarding life, protecting property and ensuring emergency readiness across our communities," said Gates. "I remain committed to supporting our firefighters and professional staff, strengthening local partnerships and delivering reliable high-quality service grounded in accountability and transparency. It is a privilege to lead an organization built on service, professionalism and deep commitment to the people of El Dorado County."