Chief Phillip Garcia began his fire service career in Culver City, California in 1975. He promoted through the ranks of the Culver City Fire Department and served the public as a Firefighter, Paramedic, Engineer, Captain, Training Officer, Fire Marshal, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief and Acting Fire Chief. In 2003, he left Culver City to become the Fire Chief for the City of Santa Ana, where he worked until accepting the position with the Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority.

He has spent his professional career striving to enhance the fire service at all levels. Along the path to Sonoma, he has acquired a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Redlands University, a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Long Beach State University, and a Certificate in Fire Prevention from the University of California, Irvine.

Chief Garcia is excited about the opportunities that currently exist with the Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority (SVFRA). The organization has made major strides in bringing together two entities: the Valley of the Moon Fire Protection District and the City of Sonoma Fire Department. The SVFRA has embarked on projects that have enhanced the emergency delivery system to the entire Sonoma Valley region. We have completed the SVFRA Standards of Coverage (SOC) document that will help define who we are and give us empirical information for defining our future delivery system. We are currently in the process of developing a strategic plan that will be a road map for guiding the organization through continuous quality improvement for all services that we now provide to the community.

Anyone interested in speaking to the Chief about the SVFRA is welcome to stop by Department Headquarters at 630 Second Street West. He would be happy to talk about the wonderful programs that are currently in place and the plans for future development of organization. His goal is to continue the legacy of providing exemplary service to the community with a delivery system that is second to none.