David Shew has been appointed as the first ever Fire Administrator for Napa County, starting October 30. Shew's appointment comes with over 30 years of experience in fire prevention, majorly from his time at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) according to an official announcement by Napa County.
In fact, during his lengthy tenure at CAL FIRE, Shew took on key roles such as the Napa County Fire Marshal, Napa County Battalion Chief, Special Operations Chief, South Division Operations Chief, and Administrative Division Chief. His broad experience lends substantial weight to his new responsibilities.
Regarding his appointment, Shew stated, "I look forward to working with my new colleagues to help implement the Fire Master Plan and facilitate the delivery of vital grant funding for the citizens we serve." The official reveal of Shew's position lays out his duties, including strategic planning, coordination, and cross-functional oversight within the Napa County Fire Department. He will also serve as liaison to the Board of Supervisors and the County Executive Officer, overseeing the CAL FIRE contract.
Though Shew's role is largely administrative, his chief concern remains wildfire prevention and mitigation. He plans to foster collaboration in wildfire prevention, actively working with the Napa County Firewise Foundation (NCFF) alongside Fire Safe Councils throughout the county. Shew is also crucial in managing the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant—a key part of unifying Napa County's fire resilience efforts.
Evidently, Shew comes to this role with plenty of experience, starting as a firefighter, fire apparatus engineer, enjoying a stint as fire captain in CAL FIRE's Santa Clara Unit and later in CAL FIRE's Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit. Shew also has considerable knowledge in architecture, and emergency medical technology, to being an ambulance driver the county's announcement revealed.
The new fire administrator's work in fire-fighting and wildfire prevention is not only impressive but has also garnered much appreciation. He has twice received the CAL FIRE Director's Outstanding Achievement Award, once in 2014 and again in 2015, in addition to a Medal of Valor from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2007.
Shew will be supported by Jeffrey Rogers (J.R.), who was appointed by CEO Ryan Alsop, as the countywide fire project manager. Rogers' experience, particularly his role as the station lead for the Angwin Fire Department, complements Shew's demonstrated expertise, enhancing Napa County's fire protection and prevention capabilities. Rogers' experience further solidifies this critical movement for Napa County.
Napa County CEO Ryan Alsop praised the appointment as a significant step towards advancing the County's safety, with Shew's "extensive experience and unwavering dedication" making him invaluable to the leadership team.
