Scott Alber - Battalion Chief, Fire Marshal
As Fire Marshal, Chief Alber is responsible for administering and managing the department’s Fire Prevention Bureau, which includes coordinating the fire department’s reviews of access, vegetation management, and fire protection water supplies for all prospective land development projects in the county’s jurisdiction, as well as plan reviews for fire suppression and fire alarm systems. He conducts fire safety inspections of businesses, schools, assembly, hotel/apartment, hazardous, and storage occupancies. Chief Alber also serves as lead fire investigator for the Marin County Fire Department, and as a team leader of the Marin County Fire Investigation Team.
His duties include representing the fire department on various county and citizen committees, public education, and supervising the county’s vegetation management/mitigation program. He is also responsible for coordinating the department’s engine company inspection programs, and for code and standard development.
After his graduation from SDSU with a Mechanical Engineering degree, Chief Alber began his professional career as a Structural and Environmental Test Engineer in the aerospace industry. After achieving registration as a professional Mechanical Engineer, followed by registration as a Fire Protection Engineer, he worked for an engineering consulting firm specializing in fire-related failure analysis, followed by employment as a consulting engineer and project manager for a major Fire Protection Engineering consulting firm.
Chief Alber began his career in the fire service (third-generation) in 1999 as the Fire Prevention Officer with the Sausalito Fire Department. He was appointed Fire Marshal by the Marin County Fire Department in 2002. In addition to his service as Fire Marshal, Chief Alber served on the board and as President of the Fire Prevention Officers Section of the Marin County Fire Chiefs’ Association (2002), as well as a Co-Chair of the Fire Code Committee (2002-2005), board member (2005-2010) and President (2009) of the Northern California Fire Prevention Officers Section of the California Fire Chiefs’ Association.
Chief Alber has achieved designation as Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and Fire Marshal (FM) from the Center for Public Safety Excellence, and designation as a Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE). He is also expecting to graduate in the fall of 2013 from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program.
Bret McTigue - Battalion Chief, Emergency Medical Officer
Chief Bret McTigue has served the EMS community for the last 16 years, predominately in rural wilderness communities, first with the US Forest Service, CAL FIRE in San Luis Obispo and Riverside County and now oversees operations as the Emergency Medical Services Battalion Chief for the Marin County Fire Department, the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority, and the Southern Marin Emergency Medical Paramedic Authority. Chief McTigue is a graduate from CAL Poly State University in San Luis Obispo Majoring in Natural Resource Management and Fire Depart Administration Management.
Jeremey Pierce - Battalion Chief
Jeremey Pierce is a Battalion Chief for the Marin County Fire Department. Jeremey started his career as a Paramedic in Glendale, CA. in 1990. He was hired in 1991 with Marin County Fire Department as a Paramedic/Firefighter, and worked his way up through the ranks until promotion to Battalion Chief in 2013. Jeremey is a founding member of the Marin County US&R team. He has held the position of Medical Unit Leader, Rescue Team Manager and currently Task Force Leader for CA RTF-1.
The Operations Battalion Chief’s duties include commanding the emergency operations of the shift, which includes fire suppression, training, vegetation management, emergency medical services, communications, hazardous materials incidents, and other emergency responses. Jeremey is CICCS qualified as strike team leader, division group and taskforce leader.
Chris Martinelli - Battalion Chief
Chris Martinelli is a Battalion Chief for the Marin County Fire Department. Chris started his career as a Volunteer Firefighter with Bolinas Volunteer Fire Department in 1995. He was hired by Marin County Fire Department as a Seasonal Firefighter in 1996, and worked his way up through the ranks, promoting to Battalion Chief in 2014. Chris has been a member of the Marin County US&R and Water Rescue teams. He has held the positions of Rescue Technician, Squad Leader, and currently is a Rescue Manager for CA RTF-1. Chris manages the department's Seasonal Firefighting program, is involved with Cal Fire's C-Faller and S234 Cadres, and coordinates disaster preparedness in West Marin.
The Battalion Chief’s duties include commanding the emergency operations of the shift, which includes fire suppression, training, vegetation management, emergency medical services, communications, hazardous materials incidents, and other emergency responses. Chris is CICCS qualified as strike team leader, division group and taskforce leader.
Christie Neill - Battalion Chief, Vegetation Management Program
Christie Neill started her career in 1984 as a wildland firefighter for the US Forest Service. She worked her way up through the ranks working on engines, helitack, and hotshot and fuels crews, including Fuels Battalion, Forest Division Chief positions until moving to the USFS Regional Office as Regional Fuels and Fire Use Specialist. Christie has an A.S. in Forestry and Technical Fire Management Certification from Colorado State University. She promoted to the National Park Service Pacific West Regional Office 2004 -2014 where she held both the Deputy Regional Fire Management Officer Fuels and Operations positions. Christie retired with 30 years of federal service and moved to Marin County Fire as Vegetation Management Program Battalion Chief in November 2014.
Christie is responsible for coordination and implementation of various projects and programs including oversight of Green Waste and Defensible Space Inspection Program, updating Community Wildfire Protection and Countywide Fire Plans, identification of vegetation management projects and needed environment compliance process, grant acquisition, CAL FIRE data reporting; is a liaison to Fire Safe Marin and FireWise Community development and support.
Christie has served on both Type 1 & 2 Federal Interagency Incident Management Teams in operations, plans and safety positions since 1996 as is currently a Type I Planning Section Chief on a Federal Interagency Type 1 Team. She serves as a coach and evaluator on the S-520 Steering Committee and Cadre and instructor for NWCG and All Hazard Planning Section Chief & Resource Unit Leader courses.
Randy Engler – Operations Battalion Chief
Randy Engler is an Operations Battalion Chief for the Marin County Fire Department. Randy began his fire service career as a Volunteer Firefighter with the Novato Fire Protection District in 1985. He was hired by the Marin County Fire Department in 1991 as a Seasonal Firefighter, working his way up through the ranks. Throughout his career he has worked in all stations and the Emergency Command Center, but primary assignments included the Woodacre, Marin City and Pt. Reyes Stations.
Randy has served on the Marin County Hazardous Materials Team and is a founding member of the Marin County Water Rescue Team, and the Marin County Urban Search and Rescue Team, CA-RTF-1 holding positions of Squad Leader, Rescue Team Leader and Task Force Leader. He is currently the Program Manager. In addition to managing the Urban Search and Rescue Team, he is responsible for management of the departments heavy equipment program.
The Operations Battalion Chief’s duties include commanding the emergency operations of the shift, which involves fire suppression, training, vegetation management, emergency medical services, communications, hazardous materials incidents, and other emergency responses. Randy is CICCS qualified as a Strike Team Leader, Line Safety Officer, Division/Group Supervisor and Operations Branch Director. He is also a type III Operations Section Chief on the North Bay Incident Management Team.