Palm Springs Fire Chief to retire

Palm Springs fire Chief Scott Ventura will retire later this month after more than three decades of service, the city announced today.

Deputy Fire Chief John Allen will take over Dec. 21 for Ventura, who was
appointed fire chief in December 2010. Allen, a 19-year veteran of the Palm
Springs Fire Department, will be the city’s eighth fire chief and will be sworn
in at the Dec. 19 City Council meeting, according to city spokeswoman Amy
Blaisdell.

“The city of Palm Springs thanks Chief Scott Ventura for his 32 years
of tremendous service to our community and we wish him a happy and healthy retirement,” said City Manager David Ready. “I am confident that Deputy Chief John Allen is the right person to lead the Palm Springs Fire Department into the next generation and that he will continue to be a tremendous asset to our community.”

Allen, who has a degree in fire science from College of the Desert, has
been with the department since 1994. He has held every position in the
department and was one of its first paramedics.

Allen led the Medical Supply Program, managed Fire Prevention Week, was
named “Firefighter of the Year” in 1998, serves on the board of directors of
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Desert and belongs to the Palm Springs Rotary,
according to Blaisdell.

“I am honored and humbled to accept the position of fire chief for the
city of Palm Springs,” Allen said. “Palm Springs is a wonderfully unique and
diverse community like no other and I am thrilled to be given the opportunity
to serve the city while leading the finest group of firefighters and paramedics
in the Coachella Valley.”