PRESS RELEASE
City of Porterville
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
For more information contact:
Yuriko Velarde, Administrative Analyst
yvelarde@ci.porterville.ca.us
October 19, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BRYAN COGBURN APPOINTED AS NEW CHIEF FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
The City of Porterville is proud to announce the appointment of Bryan Cogburn as the new Fire Chief of the Porterville Fire Department. Chief Cogburn has been employed with the City of Porterville since February 2019 and has been serving in the capacity of Acting Fire Chief since November 2021. With the retirement of Fire Chief Dave LaPere, the City conducted an open recruitment for the position of Fire Chief, which Chief Cogburn best possessed the necessary qualifications and experience for the position. While in the capacity of Acting Fire Chief, Chief Cogburn provided strong leadership and direction for the Porterville Fire Department while overseeing projects, serving also as the Strike Team Leader for the California Office of Emergency Services on out-of-county campaign fires. Porterville City Manager, John Lollis, said that “Since his appointment as Deputy Fire Chief in June 2021 and then Acting Fire Chief in November 2021, Chief Cogburn has demonstrated extraordinary leadership of the Porterville Fire Department through the recovery from the catastrophic Porterville Library fire in February 2020 and the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, and is recognized both regionally and statewide for his experience and knowledge of the fire service. The City of Porterville is fortunate to have Chief Cogburn serve as its next Fire Chief.”
Chief Cogburn has almost twenty years of fire service experience and holds multiple fire service certificates and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Chief Cogburn, said that “It is an exciting time for public safety in the City of Porterville. With the ongoing support of the community and the City Council, we will continue to excel. I am grateful for this opportunity and honored to lead our Department into the future.” With the honor to serve as the tenth Fire Chief for the Porterville Fire Department since it became a paid Department in 1927, the City of Porterville congratulates Chief Cogburn on his appointment and invites the community to join in welcoming the new Fire Chief.
