New Interim IFPD chief

Interim Idyllwild Fire Protection District Fire Chief, Norm Walker, and wife, Kim,just prior to his swearing in ceremony Friday evening, May 14.




Former interim Chief, Mike Mulhall, pins the Chief's badge to Walker's shirt.







At its May 11 meeting, the Idyllwild Fire Protection District Commission asked Norm Walker to serve as their next interim fire chief until a successor to former chief Steve Kunkle is selected.

At a special meeting Friday, May 14, Commission Vice President Pete Capparelli (due to President Jeannine Charles Stigall’s bout with laryngitis) swore Walker into office.

“I’m excited,” Walker said during the week. “I like being back.” When asked what his plans might be, he stressed he would continue what the commission and Mulhall had been working on, such as getting approval to use the Autopulse equipment.

Walker will be the second interim chief, following Mulhall’s temporary promotion. He served from Feb. 17 through Friday, May 14. Walker is very familiar with Idyllwild, the local forest and firefighting. He is the former fire chief for the San Jacinto Ranger District. He retired in March 2008. He is also still an active member of the Southern California Interagency Management teams.