Lakeport Fire Protection District names new chief
- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Fire Protection District reported Wednesday that it has named a new chief.
The new chief is Patrick Reitz, who will join the district’s team on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
He succeeds Chief Jeff Thomas, who resigned in May, as Lake County News has reported. Since then, Dan Grebil has served as interim chief.
Reitz is the former fire chief for the Idyllwild Fire Protection District in Idyllwild, California; the city of Sheridan, Wyoming; and the Crooked River Ranch Rural Fire Protection District in Terrebonne, Oregon.
Lakeport Fire said Reitz has served for more than 35 years in emergency services, including experience in fire, emergency medical services, or EMS, and law enforcement in Ohio, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming and California.
Having started as a volunteer firefighter, he has worked with volunteer, career and combination fire and EMS departments and districts; as well as private, volunteer and county EMS services.
In addition, Chief Reitz has worked as an adviser for emergency and disaster planning and preparation, as well as fire and emergency services issues with individuals, organizations and agencies.
Reitz and his wife, Christina, have five children and three grandchildren. They are relocating from Idyllwild, where Christina works for the Post Office and is a commissioner for the Idyllwild Fire Protection District.
The couple has been active in both the community and their church, and is looking forward to getting settled and getting to know the community of Lakeport.
The five-member Lakeport Fire District Board of Directors — appointed by either the Lakeport City Council or the Board of Supervisors — said in the Wednesday statement that it is enthusiastic about bringing on Reitz.
The board cited his extensive background in emergency services and how it will benefit the community with knowledgeable oversight of the fire district.
The Lakeport Fire Protection District provides fire protection and advanced life support ambulance services to Lakeport and surrounding areas.
Career staff includes the fire chief, three captain/paramedics, three firefighter/paramedics, six firefighter/EMT’s, one administrative assistant and one office assistant. The current volunteer firefighter roster is 19.