Thirty-one-year Cal Fire veteran Joe Tyler has been appointed to lead Cal Fire, California’s statewide fire agency overseeing an appropriated budget of $3.7 billion and more than 9,600 civilian and uniformed staff who responded to more than 535,000 emergencies in 2021.
Tyler succeeds Thomas Porter as the 22nd director in Cal Fire’s 137-year history.
Tyler most recently served as the deputy director of fire protection. Prior to his appointment as deputy director, Tyler served as the assistant deputy director of fire protection with oversight of law enforcement/civil cost recovery, fire protection operations, aviation management, tactical air operations, and mobile equipment. He has also held managerial responsibility for training, safety, emergency medical services, local/state/federal programs, and hand crew programs.
Tyler serves as the department representative on the California Wildland Coordinating Group, National Association
of State Forester’s Wildland Fire Committee, and Western States Fire Managers, He also served on several statewide committees and cadres and was instrumental in the acquisition of a new fleet of helicopters and C-130 air tankers.
“I am honored to have been selected to lead Cal Fire and I look forward to serving the people of California while promoting the health and welfare of our employees,” Tyler said in remarks to Cal Fire’s leadership upon his appointment.
