New East Fork Fire Chief Alan Ernst
A $346,108 a year contract with the first East Fork Fire chief hired by an independent district board was approved on Tuesday.
New Chief Alan Ernst has already been working for the district, shadowing longtime Chief Tod Carlini since December.
His tenure officially begins on Feb. 8. The contract expires in 2030.
“I probably worried more about who was going to take my place than I worried about anything,” Carlini said on Tuesday.
Ernst was hired on Dec. 10, 2024, after consultant Matt Gruver described the semi-finalist interview process the day before.
Each candidate went through four assessments before a panel of peers and stakeholders on Dec. 9, Gruver told board members.
The panel discussed each candidates strengths and weaknesses before recommending a candidate.
East Fork Professional Firefighters President Kevin May told board members the Association was pleased with the process and felt Ernst was the best candidate. East Fork Fire Protection District Volunteer Association President Chris Lang agreed with May.
External panel members Bryce Clutts and Alicia Main spoke at the Dec. 10 meeting where district board members voted to approve Ernst’s hiring.
Ernst was previously a deputy chief with the Carson City Fire Department for just over a year.
He’d previously served seven years as fire chief for Modesto Fire Department before retiring after 27 years.
He began his career as a volunteer firefighter in El Dorado County.
“I’m very happy with Chief Ernst,” Carlini said on Tuesday. “Support Chief Ernst like you did me and make him look good every day. That’s what it’s all about.”