After serving nine months as Acting State Fire Marshal, Chief Daniel Berlant was officially appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as State Fire Marshal with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) on Friday, October 6, 2023. During his tenure as Acting State Fire Marshal, Berlant has worked with RCRC and its member counties to collaborate on various programs, including gathering input on the state’s proposed State Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps, as well as education on the proposed Zone Zero defensible space regulations. Chief Berlant also spearheaded programs to help low-income residents in high fire risk areas with the costs of home hardening projects, working with several RCRC member counties.
Chief Berlant previously served as Deputy Director, Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation at CAL FIRE since 2022 and has held several positions there since 2001, including Assistant Deputy Director, Chief of Public Information, Department Information Officer, Communication Specialist, and Defensible Space/Fire Inspector. Berlant earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis. This position requires Senate confirmation.
For information about RCRC’s work in the policy area of forestry and wildfire, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.