Novato Fire District Names New Fire Chief

NOVATO, CA – Novato Fire District has named a longtime local firefighter and community volunteer as the district's new fire chief.

Battalion Chief Bill Tyler has served the district for more than 22 years. He will begin his new role as fire chief on Monday.

"I have great confidence in Chief Tyler to lead this organization through all the times and events that lay ahead," Fire Chief Mark Heine said in a statement.

Tyler began his fire service career in 1994 as a firefighter trainee with the Tamalpais Fire District. Two years later, he was hired as a firefighter-paramedic with the Novato Fire District. Since then, Tyler has served as fire inspector, captain and deputy fire marshal, and battalion chief and fire marshal.

Tyler is Novato's emergency operations center coordinator and has served as logistics and planning
section chief during past EOC activations. He currently serves on the county's Board of Supervisors' Disaster
Citizens' Corps Council and is co-chair of the Public Disaster Education and Preparedness Subcommittee.

He also participates on two county special operations teams as a certified hazardous materials specialist, as well as a court-qualified expert witness in cause and origin fire investigation.

Tyler has a bachelor's degree in English from Cal State Hayward. He completed his paramedic training at the Stanford Pre-Hospital Paramedic Program in Palo Alto. He also holds a professional credential as a designated chief fire officer from the Center of Public Safety Excellence and is a certified chief officer through the California State Board of Fire Services.

A Novato resident, Tyler is active in the community as a member of the Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise, parent coordinator for the San Marin Robotics Club, veteran soccer coach for the Novato Youth Soccer Association, past Novato South Little League Board Member, and volunteer for the San Marin High School Holiday Tree Recycle Program, which helps fund safe and sober grad night activities. He received the Employee of the Year Award for the Novato Fire District in 2004 and Ed Stark Achievement Award from the Novato Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program in 2009.

Tyler and his wife of 19 years, Marie, have four children.

His official badge pinning ceremony is slated for Feb. 22.

Photo via Novato Fire District