Chief Colin Arnold
Chief Colin Arnold has served with the Berkeley Fire Department since 2008 and has held the ranks of Firefighter, Paramedic, Apparatus Operator, and Captain. In March 2024, he was appointed Assistant Fire Chief, directing the Wildland Urban Interface Division. Chief Arnold holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a master’s in Public Administration from USC. He is a published author in the fire service field, a two-time recipient of the Alameda County EMS Siren Award for Bravery, and was named Berkeley Firefighter of the Year in 2016. His leadership roles include overseeing Berkeley’s COVID-19 operational response, serving as a recruit training officer, advancing department funding initiatives, and instructing as a state-certified Fire Control and Rope Rescue Technician. He also serves as a Liaison Officer with the East Bay Type III Incident Management Team and was selected in 2025 to join the FIRESCOPE AdHoc Wildland Pre-Plan Group.