The third Cal Fire director to come from within the department’s ranks, Chief Ken Pimlott was appointed  July 12, 2011, at age 45, by Governor Jerry Brown after serving as acting director since November 2010. He is also state forester and reports to Natural Resources Agency Secretary John Laird.

A native of Lafayette,  Pimlott  began his career at age 17 as a reserve firefighter in Contra Costa County. He picked up an associate degree in fire technology from American River College before getting his bachelor’s in forest resource management from Humboldt State University in 1989. He is a registered professional forester.

After serving as a seasonal fire fighter in the Tulare Unit in 1987, Pimlott joined Cal Fire as a firefighter in 1990.  He put in 23 years with Cal Fire, rising to deputy director of fire protection, in charge of statewide fire protection programs, including command and control operations, cooperative fire protection, conservation camps, fleet management, aviation management, training and safety.

He served as co-chair of the 2010 Strategic Fire Plan Steering Committee within the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and represents Cal Fire on the California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee board of directors.

He is a resident of Cameron Park.

Ken Pimlott Bio (CalFire website)

Ken Pimlott, California's Top Firefighter  (Humboldt magazine)