CAL FIRE Riverside Unit Western Operations Deputy Chief Retiring

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November 2011

West Operations Deputy Chief Mike Ritchey sets his sights on retirement after 31 1⁄2 years of service.

Mike Ritchey began his career with CAL FIRE as a seasonal firefighter in 1979 at the CDF Yorba Linda fire station. Mike promoted to Fire Apparatus Engineer in 1981, where he was assigned to the Tulare and Riverside Units until 1986.

Between 1986 and 1999, Chief Ritchey had promoted as a Schedule A and Schedule B Fire Captain and was assigned to various stations throughout the Riverside Unit.

In 1999, Mike promoted to Battalion Chief and was assigned to Battalion 15 until 2003 where he then transferred to the position of Battalion Chief at Oak Glen Conservation Camp. He later accepted a special assignment as the Oak Glen Division Chief until2007.

Mike's dedication to his work and commitment to the CAL FIRE Mission earned him his current position as Deputy Chief of West Operations in April, 2007 at the CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department Administrative Headquarters in Perris.

Mike is also the Operations Section Chief on CAL FIRE Incident Command Team #7 (ICT7). Prior to this long-standing ICT7 assignment, he performed flawlessly in many major incident management functions; Finance and Logistics Section Chief, Division Group Supervisor, Strike Team Leader (Engines, Crews and Dozers), Cost Analysis Tech Spec and is an instructor in Firing Operations, Strike Team Leader (Engines, Crews, Dozers) and Hired Equipment Tech Spec. Mike was also instrumental in the course development for Wildland Urban Interface and Fire Control Strategy/Tactics.

Some of Mike's career milestones included special assignment to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services in Finance and Administration for the 1992 L.A. Riots, the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the 1997 flooding disaster in Northern California and the 1998 Stockton flooding disaster.

Mike has been married to his wife Mary for 29 years and has two grown children; Nick, 27 and Jennifer, 24. We wish Mike many years of happiness as he retires. He enjoys hunting, boating, NASCAR and sports. We will miss his candor, knowledge and common sense approach and drive to resolve. Friend, mentor, teacher and advisor....we will feel your absence for many years after you retire.



Author:CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Dept. Press Release