Cal Fire names interim Fire Chief to replace John Hawkins
An interim fire chief was in charge in Riverside County today following the still-unexplained removal of John Hawkins by CalFire, the agency that employs him.
Hawkins is still an employee of CalFire but no longer Riverside County Fire Chief, according to a CalFire spokesman. Deputy Fire Chief Dan Talbot will serve as acting fire chief while a replacement is found.
No reason was cited for Hawkins’ removal.
“It was nothing on our end. This was a unilateral action by CalFire,” Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley said in remarks reported by The Sun. He stressed that Hawkins was “very well-liked” by local officials.
Hawkins has been chief since August of 2006 and a firefighter since 1964.
