ENCINITAS — The city has appointed acting fire Chief Mike Stein to the position of fire chief effective immediately, according to a city issued press release.
Stein will guide the department to continually adhere to the highest standards of professionalism while achieving excellence in caring for the safety of all community members.
Stein will serve as fire chief for the cities of Encinitas, Del Mar and Solana Beach as part of a Cooperative Management Services Agreement established between the cities in 2009.
Stein has been working for Encinitas for the past three years. He has held the positions of fire battalion chief, deputy fire chief and acting fire chief.
He has over 26 years of firefighting experience and has served in every rank beginning with Reserve Firefighter.
“With almost three decades of firefighting experience, Chief Stein is an asset to the community,” said City Manager Karen Brust, in the press release. “Over his three years at the Chief Officer level for the City of Encinitas Fire Department, including serving the last eight months as Acting Fire Chief, he has performed at an exceptional level. We’re confident Chief Stein will continue to keep our communities safe.”
Prior to his appointment with the City of Encinitas Fire Department, he worked for the San Miguel Fire District for 23years, where he was the district’s first paramedic coordinator and developed the district’s Peer Mentor Program.
In 2009 as a fire battalion chief, he was assigned to the city of San Diego’s Office of Homeland Security where he managed a regional training program for both fire and law enforcement personnel from around the entire county. In 2013, he was given the Major’s Award from the U.S. Army Sgt. of the California Emergency Management Agency for his work in Homeland Security.
Stein holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in public administration from Cal State Dominguez Hills.
He is a third generation firefighter, his grandfather served with the Los Angeles Fire Department and his father served with the Santa Monica Fire Department for 31 years.
