Meet Coronado's Fire Chief

Oct. 3—9 is National Fire Prevention Week, a time to re-educate the public on the dangers of fire. This year's theme is "Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with"—a friendly reminder to change the batteries on all smoke detectors in your home.

In honor of National Fire Prevention Week, we've dedicated the inaugural edition of this column to Chief John Traylor of the Coronado Fire Department. Read on to learn more about the chief.

Chief John Traylor has more than 40 years of service under his belt. His career began in 1966 with the U.S. Air Force, where he worked as a military firefighter. From there, he climbed the ranks in the El Cajon Fire Department, eventually becoming a division chief.

In 1997, Traylor became fire chief for the city of Coronado, where he continued to work until his retirement in 2003. Following retirement, he served as a consultant on fire and emergency medical services for San Diego County and also as a consultant on fire service consolidation in North County.

Last June, the city plucked Traylor out of retirement and asked him to return as chief while Coronado searched for a new city manager. His dedication was such that he agreed. "I knew we were going through a transition," he said.

Traylor, 65, is a native San Diegan with a degree in public administration from San Diego State University. He and his wife, Lynn, live in a condo "just across the bridge" in downtown San Diego. His wife is a third-grade teacher at Cajon Valley Elementary School in El Cajon. They have two daughters and three grandchildren. Traylor also has two stepchildren who recently graduated from college.    

Coronado Patch: What are you most proud of in your tenure as fire chief?

Chief John Traylor: In 2001, we initiated a higher level of emergency medical care. (The Department now offers Advanced Life Support with electrocardiograms and intravenous controlled drugs. Prior to this transition, the department offered Basic Life Support, or standard EMT care with cardiac stimulation and CPR. Currently, the Coronado Fire Department only hires dual-role employees—trained firefighters who are also certified paramedics.)

Coronado Patch: Describe one of the most challenging moments in your career.

Traylor: I was a firefighter at the end of a hose line in September of 1970 for the Laguna Fire. At the time, it was the largest wildland fire in the history of California. (Since then, the chief served as part of the command staff for the 2003 Cedar Fire. He also acted as a consultant and ran the Emergency Operations Center for the Harris and Witch Creek fires in 2007.)

Coronado Patch: Are there many structure fires in Coronado?

Traylor: We haven't had a destructive fire since last August. It was a home in the Coronado Cays. Eighty percent of our calls are medical aid: trauma, auto accidents, etc.

Coronado Patch: After 40 years on the job, what keeps you going?

Traylor: Saving lives and property. Serving the needs of others in emergency situations continues to drive and motivate me.

Coronado Patch: What do you do on your time off?

Traylor: My wife and I like to travel. In 2007, we took a European river cruise along the Danube. Last summer, we rented a car in Boston and drove up through New Hampshire and Maine.

Coronado Patch: What's your favorite spot in Coronado?

Traylor: The grounds of the Hotel Del—the preservation of the history behind it. It's the landmark that people associate with Coronado.

Coronado Patch: What is the best fire safety tip you can give Coronadoans?

Traylor: Pay attention to products of combustion, especially open flame. The major cause of fire is men, women and children, through negligence and carelessness. Fire is part of our lives. We use it for cooking and for comfort, but if it's misused, that's when you get into trouble. Also, change the batteries in your smoke detectors. When you change your clock back this fall, change your smoke detector batteries, too.