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Dan Munsey

Fire Chief / Fire Warden

Chief Munsey began his career in 1995 as a paid-call firefighter serving the community of Yucca Valley and quickly decided to a pursue a career as a full-time firefighter shortly thereafter. In 1998, Munsey joined our fire department as a full-time firefighter/paramedic. Since then, Chief Munsey has enjoyed a diverse career including executive leadership and management experiences in both the rural and metropolitan fire service communities which includes having worked in every division of San Bernardino County Fire.

Chief Munsey holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and holds multiple Incident Command System (ICS) certifications. Munsey has completed many specialized leadership-training courses, including the California Special Districts Association Leadership Academy and the San Bernardino County Management and Leadership Academy; a program that provides comprehensive management and leadership training to county employees. Chief Munsey is one of few fire chiefs in California who possesses a Center for Public Excellence Chief Fire Officer credential and a California State Fire Marshal Chief Fire Officer certificate. Currently Chief Munsey is halfway through the four-year National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.

In addition to Chief Munsey’s service to San Bernardino County, he is the president of the California Fire Chiefs Association Operations Section and is the chair of the International Fire Chiefs Association Technology Council Communications and Data section. He is also a member of the National Fire Protection Agency Forum and has instructed dozens of Fire Service, NIMS, and Incident Command Systems courses throughout his career. Munsey enjoys speaking about his command experiences, leadership, and the use of emerging technology in the fire service at conferences around the nation.

Chief Munsey believes strongly in being active and involved in community service, ensuring department diversity, hiring from our communities, and working in collaboration with other agencies to ensure public safety. Dan Munsey became Fire Chief of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District on November 20, 2019.

Dan Munsey

Scott Tuttle

Interim Deputy Chief of Operations

Interim Deputy Chief of Operations and Assistant Chief Scott Tuttle is responsible for fire, rescue and emergency medical service in the South Desert region which encompasses the City of Needles, the Town of Yucca Valley, City of Twentynine Palms and the seven unincorporated areas of the eastern edge of the county. Chief Tuttle has lived in Yucca Valley for over 30 years and has worked in the South Desert region for most of his 26-year career.

Chief Tuttle began his career with San Bernardino County Fire in 1994 as a Firefighter Paramedic. Tuttle progressed through the ranks, promoting to Captain in 2007 and Battalion Chief in 2015. Chief Tuttle has worked throughout the county, proudly serving the citizens of San Bernardino County and its visitors. He has been an active member of the department’s Hazardous Material team and has managed the program since 2015. The program has evolved under his leadership and was one of twelve Hazmat teams statewide to receive a CalOES Type II Hazmat vehicle.

Chief Tuttle has an associate degree in Fire Technology and has earned numerous certifications. Tuttle has served on several committees, is the CERT liaison and an active member of the San Bernardino County Professional Firefighters Pipes and Drums.

Chief Tuttle and wife Lori have made their home in Yucca Valley. Their daughter Madison attends San Diego State University. In his free time Chief Tuttle enjoys hiking, sailing and travelling.

Scott Tuttle

Bertral Washington

Deputy Chief of Administration

Chief Bertral Washington is responsible for overseeing the department’s planning and accreditation, training and safety, emergency medical services, support (vehicle and warehouse) services, and community risk reduction efforts.

Chief Washington comes to the Fire District with over 25 years of experience in the fire service. Chief Washington served as the Fire Chief for the City of Pasadena for over five years, starting in December 2014. Previously, Chief Washington served as the Fire Chief of Clark County Fire Department (Nevada) and has 16 years’ experience in the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Department from the rank of Firefighter Paramedic to Assistant Fire Chief. He has also served as a substitute teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Chief Washington has a strong educational background which includes a Master’s degree in Public Administration, a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, an Associate degree in Fire Science Management, and is a graduate of the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University’s, John F. Kennedy School of Government. In addition, Chief Washington has achieved the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).

Chief Washington and his wife Cheri have two children; Chandler and Blaire. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing golf, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Bertral Washington

Cory Nelson

Deputy Chief of Business Operations

Deputy Chief Nelson proudly joined the County of San Bernardino in December 2012 where she began as an Administrative Analyst for the County Administrative Office. She has been assigned various departments throughout her years of service, which have included Finance and Administration, County Administrative Office, Assessor, Auditor Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector, Fleet, Public Works, Special Districts, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Health Administration, and Countywide Realignment. She also served as the Innovation and Technology Department’s Chief Finance Officer prior to joining County Fire.

Cory earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and has a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University San Bernardino. She completed the County’s Management Leadership Academy Executive Development Program, the California State Association of Counties Senior Executive Credential Program, and the Inland Empire Economic Partnership Regional Leadership Academy.

Cory and her husband Randy have raised twin daughters. In her leisure time, she loves to travel and explore the world, snorkel, scuba dive, attend musical theatre, and spend time with her family.

Jeff Birchfield

Assistant Chief, Division 1 (West Valley)

 Assistant Chief Birchfield is responsible for rescue operations, fire and emergency medical response in the Valley region; a region that encompasses the western half of the San Bernardino Valley.

Birchfield began his fire service career in 1991 as a paid-call firefighter for Station 37 in Mountain View Acres. He worked as a seasonal firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management on helicopter crew 554 in 1992, and then worked as a firefighter at Ft. Irwin Fire Department prior to coming to County Fire as an Engineer.

In 2000, Birchfield accepted a position with Redondo Beach Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic. In 2005 he returned to County Fire and spent the next eight years as a Captain assigned to various stations throughout the county including the Training Division. In 2013, Birchfield promoted to Battalion Chief assigned to Division 2 where he has helped secure additional grant funds for the department, performed as an expert witness on multiple cases involving vehicle collisions, and sits as Vice Chair on the FIRESCOPE Task Force

Throughout his career, Assistant Chief Birchfield has actively pursued higher education and training. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Management from Azusa Pacific University and graduated from the County’s Management Leadership Academy in 2012.

Jeff resides in Upland with his wife and two children. He enjoys traveling, boating, and golf when he’s not watching his children at their events.

Jeff Birchfield

Martin Serna

Assistant Chief, Division 2 (East Valley)

Assistant Chief Martin Serna is responsible for fire, rescue and emergency medical response in the East Valley region; a region that encompasses the eastern half of the San Bernardino Valley.

Chief Serna joined County Fire in July, after serving 29 years with the Torrance Fire Department; rising through the ranks to fire chief, a position he has held for the past 6 years.

Chief Serna has successfully developed and implemented strategic plans, department reorganizations, and established leadership development programs. During his time as fire chief with Torrance, the department became an International Accredited Fire Department and retained a Class 1 ISO rating. Through his leadership, the Torrance Fire Department also established a Basic Life EMS transportation program.

Chief Serna has a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science (Cum Laude) from Columbia Southern University and attended the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Serna served as president of the Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association for 2 years and the South Bay Fire Chiefs Association for 4 years. He is currently the president of the South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation.

Kathleen Opliger

Assistant Chief, Division 3 (Mountain)

Assistant Chief Opliger’s fire service career began in 1988, when serving as a Paid-Call Firefighter with the Idyllwild Fire Protection District. In 1989, she went to work for the U.S. Forest Service, San Bernardino National Forest, where she served for 17 years, working her way up through each of the ranks from Hotshot Crew Firefighter to Engine Captain, concluding her forest service career as an Interim Battalion Chief position serving in both Operations and Training.

In 2005, Chief Opliger came to work for the San Bernardino County Fire Department as a Battalion Chief, serving Division 1 (Valley) and Division 4 (South Desert region).  She promoted to Assistant Chief in 2013, overseeing Division 3 (Mountain region).  In March of 2019, Chief Opliger took on the  interim Deputy Chief of Operations role for 15 months.

For more than a decade, Chief Opliger participated on both Type 1 and 2 Incident Management Teams (IMT) as a Division Supervisor, Operations Branch Director, and Operations Section Chief. During this assignment, she responded to many large and devastating wildfires and all-risk incidents throughout the U.S. and Canada, most notably to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Chief Opliger serves as the Incident Commander of the department’s IMT.  Under her command, the IMT led the County’s region-wide Covid-19 response; representing 25 Fire & EMS agencies to ensure uninterrupted fire and EMS service delivery county-wide.

Chief Opliger lives in Yucaipa with her husband Rocky and their three Labradors. Kathleen and Rocky have two grown children, Brandon, who is a firefighter with the Orange County Fire Authority and Erin, who serves the department as our GIS Specialist. Kathleen & Rocky enjoy spending time on their fishing boat out of Mission Bay, and in Lake Havasu City boating, water skiing, and fishing.

Kathleen Opliger

Scott Tuttle

Assistant Chief, Division 4 (South Desert)

Interim Deputy Chief of Operations and Assistant Chief Scott Tuttle is responsible for fire, rescue and emergency medical service in the South Desert region which encompasses the City of Needles, the Town of Yucca Valley, City of Twentynine Palms and the seven unincorporated areas of the eastern edge of the county. Chief Tuttle has lived in Yucca Valley for over 30 years and has worked in the South Desert region for most of his 26-year career.

Chief Tuttle began his career with San Bernardino County Fire in 1994 as a Firefighter Paramedic. Tuttle progressed through the ranks, promoting to Captain in 2007 and Battalion Chief in 2015. Chief Tuttle has worked throughout the county, proudly serving the citizens of San Bernardino County and its visitors. He has been an active member of the department’s Hazardous Material team and has managed the program since 2015. The program has evolved under his leadership and was one of twelve Hazmat teams statewide to receive a CalOES Type II Hazmat vehicle.

Chief Tuttle has an associate degree in Fire Technology and has earned numerous certifications. Tuttle has served on several committees, is the CERT liaison and an active member of the San Bernardino County Professional Firefighters Pipes and Drums.

Chief Tuttle and wife Lori have made their home in Yucca Valley. Their daughter Madison attends San Diego State University. In his free time Chief Tuttle enjoys hiking, sailing and travelling.

Scott Tuttle

Kelly Anderson

Assistant Chief, Division 5 (North Desert)

Assistant Chief Kelly Anderson is responsible for rescue operations, fire and emergency medical response in the North Desert region.

Chief Anderson began her career as a Fire Explorer in 1994 in Hesperia and was hired as a Limited Term Firefighter in 1999, promoting to full-time status in 2002 as a Firefighter/Paramedic. Chief Anderson has served throughout the ranks, promoting to Battalion Chief in 2015 assigned to North Desert Division. Her responsibilities have included the oversight of the Ambulance Operator program as well as the Fire Corps volunteer program.

Chief Anderson continues to make the High Desert her home, along with her three boys. They enjoy outdoor activities and most of all, just spending time together. 

Kelly Anderson

Division Chief

Division Chief, Division 11 (Training & Safety)

Division Chief Jon Garber is responsible for overseeing the Training division.

Jon proudly served in the United States Marine Corps before starting his formal education to prepare himself for the Fire Service. Jon was hired by Crest Forest Fire Protection District in 1998 where he served 15 years and reached the rank of Division Chief. Jon became a Fire Captain for San Bernardino County Fire Protection District in July 2013 and held that position for over nine years. Jon has served 5 years in Division 11 as a Training and Safety Officer.

Jon currently serves as the President of the San Bernardino County Training Officer’s Association and is a member of the FIRESCOPE Incident Safety Sub-Committee.

Monica Ronchetti

Fire Marshal, Division 12 (Office of the Fire Marshal)

Fire Marshal Monica Ronchetti is responsible for the Community Safety Fire Prevention, Hazardous Materials CUPA, and Household Hazardous Waste sections within San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, which encompasses the entire unincorporated areas which includes several contract cities and districts.

Assigned to the Office of the Fire Marshal, Monica leads a diverse office that provides oversight and implementation of all regulatory inspection and planning programs, public education and special events, management over the CUPA for the entire county and cities within, provides emergency response to Hazmat related incidents, and conducts fire investigations.

Monica began her career with San Bernardino County Fire in 2009 as a Hazardous Materials Specialist Trainee and worked her way up to a Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialist in the Household Hazardous Waste section in 2015.  In 2018, she was promoted to Deputy Fire Marshal managing the Hazardous Materials and Household Hazardous Waste sections.  Monica participates in various local and state committees and boards.  She is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and holds several California State Fire Marshal certifications.

Monica is a 2023 graduate from National University with a Master of Public Administration.  She also has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Cal State San Bernardino with a minor in Geography, and an associate degree in Biology from Riverside Community College.  Monica has completed all three levels of the County’s Management Leadership Academy.

Monica Ronchetti