El Dorado County’s governing boards have unanimously tapped Brad Gates as the next fire chief to lead the newly unified district, putting a fresh face in charge as local fire agencies pull together under one roof. Gates will step in as the El Dorado County Fire Protection District completes annexation of the Diamond Springs–El Dorado Fire Protection District and will work alongside incumbent Chief Tim Cordero in a structured handoff over the coming months. The hire follows the retirement of Diamond Springs–El Dorado Chief Matt Gallagher and folds the consolidated agency’s all‑risk public safety operations under a single leadership team.
Board selects chief after nationwide search
According to a press release from the El Dorado County Fire Protection District, Gates emerged as the top choice after a nationwide recruitment process. The search included a stakeholder panel with representatives from El Dorado County and the City of Placerville, a nod to the broader reach of the newly configured district. The boards cast the decision as part of a deliberate push to build a modern, sustainable leadership model for a larger, all‑risk agency, and said the vote to hire Gates was unanimous.
Gates' experience and priorities
Gates has already logged three years with the district and previously worked for the California Emergency Medical Services Authority as a senior emergency services coordinator, the district noted in its announcement via the El Dorado County Fire Protection District. Before that, he spent 17 years with American Medical Response in Contra Costa County. He holds a Master of Public Administration and a bachelor’s degree in homeland security and emergency management from Grand Canyon University.
“I am honored by the Board’s confidence and the opportunity to serve the residents of El Dorado County in this role,” Gates said in the district’s announcement, signaling that he intends to carry that background into the top job.
Merger timeline and next steps
As detailed by the El Dorado Local Agency Formation Commission, LAFCO has scheduled a March 25 conducting‑authority hearing and opened a protest period as part of the reorganization process. The commission’s agenda outlines updates to spheres of influence and spells out conditions that must be met before the district consolidation can be officially recorded. Those steps effectively set the near‑term timetable for when unified leadership under Gates will formally begin overseeing the expanded service area.
Board Chairman Jim Edmiston has pointed to Gates’ deep emergency‑services résumé as a key reason he rose to the top of the list, and district leaders say the planned overlap with Chief Cordero is designed to preserve institutional knowledge and keep day‑to‑day operations running smoothly. Gates has pledged to strengthen partnerships and support firefighters and staff throughout the county. Residents can expect the leadership transition to roll out over the coming months as the annexation moves toward completion.
