It’s official: Jeff LaTendresse sworn in as first CL fire chief

It comes as no surprise, but City of Canyon Lake Interim Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse has been officially hired as the city’s first fire chief and was sworn in at the City Council meeting Wednesday.

The City of Canyon Lake will begin operating its own municipal fire department beginning Jan. 1. During the city’s history, fire and medical emergency services have been provided under a contract with the county.

“I am honored and excited to be the first fire Chief for the City of Canyon Lake,” Jeff said. “Canyon Lake is a community I have grown to love since beginning my work here in February. I am dedicated to this community and its new Fire Department, and I look forward to continuing to make it one of the finest departments in Riverside County.”

Since February, when Jeff was originally hired, his role as Interim Fire Chief was to procure apparatus and materials, hire staff, and build regional relationships with other agencies. He worked with other local fire departments to execute mutual aid agreements to ensure that Canyon Lake will be able to provide and receive necessary assistance in the event of a major emergency.

Chief LaTendresse

“Chief LaTendresse has truly exceeded all expectations,” City Manager Chris Mann said. “His experience, work ethic, judgment, and attitude have all been exceptional. In addition, he has proven himself to be a team player and has been a great fit within the organization. The city saw no reason to look elsewhere to fill the Fire Chief position.”

As the new fire chief begins his work as a full-time city employee, he will receive and inspect the new fire engines and command vehicles and finalize the work to be done for needed renovations to the city’s sole fire station, Chris said. He will also complete training for the entirety of the new Fire Department staff and receive, catalog, and put into service new firefighting equipment.

Much has been done recently to staff the new fire department. Dozens of applications were submitted for the various department jobs and decisions have been made on the hires, but Jeff said a procedure is being followed to complete the hiring process.

“The city continues to move nine full-time personnel along in the hiring process and they all have progressed from the background phase to the medical examination phase,” he said. “All full-time positions, with the exception of the Battalion Chief position, are in the hiring process. Additionally, the city has put 15 Reserve Firefighters into the hiring process and they are also in the medical phase. The Reserve Firefighters will supplement the full-time staffing as the fourth Firefighter each day on the engine.”

Also vital to hitting the January deadline for taking over fire and emergency operations in Canyon Lake is in obtaining necessary equipment and training the new employees on its use.

“Work continues and much of the material ordered has started arriving,” Jeff said. “The full-time firefighters are scheduled to start training in late November so they are trained and equipped for the January 1 start date. A lot has been accomplished and there is still a lot to do as the transition date approaches.”

Jeff and his family have fully immersed themselves into their new community. Jeff and his wife Mindy LaTendresse recently sold their home in Orange County and purchased a home in Canyon Lake. Mindy has a background in building and safety, and was hired in September as a Building Permit Technician in the city’s revamped Building Department.

The couple have two children, including a son who is a firefighter for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Jeff and Mindy have quickly embraced the Canyon Lake lifestyle, purchasing a boat, placing an order for a golf cart, and becoming regulars at community events, Chris said.

Jeff comes to Canyon Lake with more than 30 years of fire and EMS experience, having held almost every position in the fire service while working his way up the ranks in departments throughout Southern California. He most recently served as Fire Chief for the Laguna Beach Fire Department.

He is also a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served abroad as a Fire Protection Specialist responding to aerospace, structural and medical emergencies.

“It has been such a pleasure working with the City Council, City Manager and dedicated city staff over the past nine months to make this dream of a Canyon Lake Fire Department a reality,” Jeff said. “Starting a brand-new fire department from scratch is a unique opportunity that most never experience in their entire careers. I am confident that the Canyon Lake Fire Department will serve the community exceptionally well and will become a source of pride for the residents of this little bit of paradise. I look forward to working with our community to keep Canyon Lake safe.”