Abbott named new NCFPD fire chief

Stephen Abbott has been selected to be the new North County Fire Protection District fire chief when current NCFPD fire chief Bill Metcalf retires at the end of the year.

"I'm honored. I'm excited. It's something that I've been working for with a lot of support from my family and a lot of mentors here," Abbott said.

The NCFPD board of directors held a special meeting Sept. 8 which included the unanimous decision to name Abbott as Metcalf's replacement.

"I think he's an excellent choice for the organization," Metcalf said. "He's very well-qualified and capable."

Abbott was given the title of Deputy Fire Chief in July after being the division chief for administration from September 2014 to July 2015. He had been a battalion chief for eight and a half years before taking his division chief role and also oversaw emergency medical services during his battalion chief years. Abbott has been with the North County Fire Protection District since 1990.

"I'm proud to call Fallbrook home," Abbott said. "It's truly a special place and I'm very honored to serve it."

Abbott grew up in Bonita and was the co-valedictorian when he graduated from Bonita Vista High School in 1984. The San Diego State University alumnus became a paramedic in 1988 and worked for the City of San Diego's fire department for two years before joining NCFPD.

Abbott was hired by NCFPD after applying for several openings. "I was particularly interested in North County, though," he said.

The North County Fire Protection District had the first alternative paramedic program in San Diego County. The standard prior to that was two paramedics on an ambulance, which was often cost-prohibitive in rural areas, but NCFPD utilized one paramedic and one emergency medical technician on an ambulance while also having one paramedic and one EMT on an engine. "It worked very well for us," Abbott said.

"It was very exciting to get in on the ground floor of that," Abbott said. "It was a great opportunity."

Metcalf has been the NCFPD Fire Chief since 2003. "I'm looking forward to working with him through the transition period and handing the reins to him at the end of the year," Metcalf said.

"I'm truly proud to work with the men and women here. It's a very talented group of people that emulate what servant leadership is all about," Abbott said.

"We've got challenges up ahead like every local government in California, but I think we've got the right team to face those challenges," Abbott said. "I'm inheriting a very good situation, and part of the goal is to move the ball forward and make it even better."