PRESS RELEASE

Cambria Community Services District        

1316 Tamsen Street, Suite 201

Cambria, CA 93428

(805) 927-6223

Online: www.cambriacsd.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Matthew McElhenie, General Manager

Email: mmcelhenie@cambriacsd.org

December 27, 2023

The Cambria Community Services District is delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Burkey as the new Fire Chief.  With over 13 years of dedicated service to the community of Cambria, Michael Burkey has a proven track record of commitment to excellence in fire safety and emergency services. Chief Burkey has been instrumental in developing innovative firefighting techniques and community safety programs that have significantly contributed to the well-being of our residents.

Michael was born and raised on the Central Coast of California and resides in Paso Robles. He graduated from Atascadero High School in 1996 and moved to San Diego, California, that same year. He obtained his EMT certification in 1997 from Miramar College and began working for East County Fire Protection District as a Firefighter/EMT. He continued through school and worked for various ambulance agencies in San Diego County, including AMR, before relocating back to San Luis Obispo County, where he continued his EMS career with San Luis Ambulance (SLAS). He became a Paramedic with San Luis Ambulance in 2004 after attending NCTI in Milpitas, CA. While at SLAS, he became an instructor for various EMS courses and began teaching at the Cuesta College Paramedic Program. He became a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic in 2009 with the Selma City Fire Department.

In 2010, he became a full-time employee with the Cambria Community Healthcare District, and shortly after, in 2011, he became a Reserve Firefighter with the Cambria Fire Department. He obtained his Engineer qualification in June 2016 and was hired as a full-time Engineer Paramedic in December 2016. He became a member of the County USAR Team in 2017 and obtained his Officer in Charge (OIC) qualification in 2019. In 2018, he was awarded San Luis Obispo County Training Officer of the Year. In July 2021, he was chosen to fill the provisional Fire Captain Paramedic vacancy and hired as the full-time Fire Captain Paramedic in September 2021. He was promoted to Interim Fire Chief on June 23, 2022, with the term ending on October 7, 2022, and appointed Interim Fire Chief on October 3, 2023.

As Chief Burkey assumes his new role, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be invaluable in driving our department forward. His leadership qualities, strategic thinking, and passion for public service set him apart as the ideal candidate for this position.