The City of Murrieta and Murrieta Fire & Rescue are pleased to announce Bernard Molloy II as the department’s new Fire Chief. Chief Molloy will be the 10th chief in Murrieta Fire & Rescue’s 75-year history. Chief Molloy was officially appointed on Monday, March 21, 2022.
“Today, I am excited to be joining an organization that is a leader in the fire service at delivering innovative public safety to the citizens they serve. I believe that a community is better served by a team than by an individual, so I look forward to continuing to develop the incredible team we have here at Murrieta Fire & Rescue. We will move forward honoring the traditions we have in place, while keeping our eyes firmly set on the future, ensuring we have a fire department that is ready for any emergencies Murrieta may face. It is an honor to be selected for this position, and I look forward to serving the community where I have spent so much of my life,” shared Chief Molloy as he begins his new role.
Chief Molloy comes to Murrieta as a division chief for the Lakeside Fire Protection District and has lived in Southwest Riverside County with his family for the past 20 years. Chief Molloy is a motivated and progressive public servant with a positive attitude and passion for fire service and leadership. Throughout his 22-year career Chief Molloy previously served as a firefighter/paramedic, engineer, captain, fire academy instructor, and division chief. He is experienced in fire department operations, budgeting, overseeing emergency medical services (EMS), as well as community risk reduction.
Murrieta City Manager Kim Summers expressed her excitement as Chief Molloy joins the Murrieta team. “With its impressive history and community-centric approach, Murrieta Fire & Rescue is an important part of this community. It was essential that we found a highly experienced individual to continue leading the department into its next phase of service to Murrieta. Chief Molloy comes with a breadth of experience and an innovative approach to serving the community, which are both critical to the Murrieta Fire & Safety’s continued success,” shared Summers.
Chief Molloy has a Master of Science in Emergency Services Management, is a National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program graduate, and holds a California State Fire Marshal Chief Officer Certification. In addition, he has served as a hazardous materials first responder and a strike team leader. He has also been involved with firefighting organizations on a statewide level, including the California Fire Chiefs Association, San Diego County Emergency Medical Care Committee, and the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association.
Chief Molloy will be ceremoniously pinned at the April 5, 2022 Murrieta City Council meeting.