Murrieta Fire & Rescue Gets New Chief

MURRIETA, CA — Murrieta Fire & Rescue has a new chief — Bernard Molloy II was officially appointed on Monday.

Molloy, a Southwest Riverside County resident for the last 20 years, comes to Murrieta from the Lakeside Fire Protection District in San Diego County where he served as division chief.

"Today, I am excited to be joining an organization that is a leader in the fire service at delivering innovative public safety to the citizens they serve," Molloy said. "I believe that a community is better served by a team than by an individual, so I look forward to continuing to develop the incredible team we have here at Murrieta Fire & Rescue.

"We will move forward honoring the traditions we have in place, while keeping our eyes firmly set on the future, ensuring we have a fire department that is ready for any emergencies Murrieta may face," Molloy continued. "It is an honor to be selected for this position, and I look forward to serving the community where I have spent so much of my life."

Molloy is following in the footsteps of Murrieta Fire & Rescue Chief David Lantzer who retired in October.

Throughout his 22-year career, Molloy has served as a firefighter/paramedic, engineer, captain, fire academy instructor, and a division chief. He is experienced in fire department operations, budgeting, overseeing emergency medical services (EMS), as well as community risk reduction, according to the city of Murrieta.

Molloy holds a master's degree in emergency services management, is a National Fire Academy executive fire officer program graduate, and holds a California State Fire Marshal Chief Officer Certification. In addition, he has served as a hazardous materials first responder and a strike team leader. He has also been involved with firefighting organizations on a statewide level, including the California Fire Chiefs Association, San Diego County Emergency Medical Care Committee, and the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association, according to the city of Murrieta.

Murrieta City Manager Kim Summers said Molloy was the right fit for Murrieta Fire & Rescue, which has an "impressive history and community-centric approach."

"It was essential that we found a highly experienced individual to continue leading the department into its next phase of service to Murrieta," Summers said. "Chief Molloy comes with a breadth of experience and an innovative approach to serving the community, which are both critical to the Murrieta Fire & Safety’s continued success."

Molloy is the 10th chief in Murrieta Fire & Rescue’s 75-year history. He will be ceremoniously pinned at the April 5 Murrieta City Council meeting.

Murrieta Fire & Rescue will celebrate its 75th anniversary on April 16. The department now employs 62 sworn personnel and 11 administrative staff.