Mike Stein made permanent Fire Chief

The city of Encinitas has appointed Acting Fire Chief Mike Stein to the position of Fire Chief effective immediately. In his role, Stein will serve as Fire Chief for the cities of Encinitas, Del Mar and Solana Beach as part of a Cooperative Management Services Agreement established between the cities in 2009.

Hired by the city of Encinitas in September of 2013, Stein has since held the positions of Fire Battalion Chief, Deputy Fire Chief and Acting Fire Chief. He has over 26 years of firefighting experience and has served in every rank beginning with Reserve Firefighter.

“With almost three decades of firefighting experience, Chief Stein is an asset to the community,” Encinitas City Manager Karen Brust said in a release. “Over his three years at the Chief Officer level for the city of Encinitas Fire Department, including serving the last eight months as Acting Fire Chief, he has performed at an exceptional level. We’re confident Chief Stein will continue to keep our communities safe.”

Stein, a third-generation firefighter, worked for the San Miguel Fire District for 23 years prior to coming to Encinitas.

In 2009, as a Fire Battalion Chief, he was assigned to the city of San Diego’s Office of Homeland Security where he managed a regional training program for both fire and law enforcement personnel from around the entire county. In 2013, he was given the Major’s Award from the U.S. Army Sergeant of the California Emergency Management Agency for his work in Homeland Security.

— Submitted press release