Felton – CAL FIRE NEWS RELEASE – Nov 10, 2021
CAL FIRE Director Thom Porter has appointed Chief Nate Armstrong as the CAL FIRE San Mateo-Santa Cruz (CZU) Unit Chief effective November 6, 2021. Chief Armstrong replaces Chief Ian Larkin who recently retired after 33 years of service. Chief Armstrong most recently served as CZU’s Deputy Chief of Operations and has 22 years of fire service experience in CAL FIRE operations, paramedic services, training, emergency command centers, administration, and State Incident Command Teams. He now leads the Unit’s 280+ permanent and seasonal staff from CZU Headquarters in Felton, CA across 16 fire stations, 1 CDCR Conservation Camp, 1 State Demonstration Forest and 110 volunteers across 8 additional fire stations that serve and protect the citizens of San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties. As the CZU Unit Chief, Chief Armstrong also serves as Fire Chief through CAL FIRE’s cooperative agreements system for San Mateo County Fire Department, Santa Cruz County Fire Department, the Coastside Fire Protection District and the Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District.