Canyon Lake Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Samuels has announced his retirement, effective July 13. Samuels has been with the department since its inception on January 1, 2022.
Samuels began work in November 2021, heading up the department’s orientation training academy ahead of its January 1 launch. In his role as battalion chief, Samuels serves as the department’s training and operations chief, managing the day-to-day activities of the department and ensuring that firefighters are being regularly trained in fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to keep the department in a state of readiness.
Prior to joining the Canyon Lake Fire Department, Samuels served the Corona Fire Department from 1987 to 2017, retiring as a deputy chief. In addition to his extensive career in fire service, Samuels also served as an instructor at the Santa Ana Fire Academy and worked as a fire consultant for Citygate Associates.
“With his tenure with the Corona Fire Department, Chief Samuels has established long relationships with other fire agencies in Riverside County that have helped with the success of the Canyon Lake Fire Department,” Fire Chief Jeff LaTendress said. “It doesn’t matter what you do but who you do it with, and we would not be as successful as we are without Chief Sameauls. He will be greatly missed and we wish him the best in his new venture.”
Chief Samuels is looking forward to spending more time with his family, granddaughter, and new grandson.
