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Interim Fire Chief Settles In To Role
SCFPD
Photo By Virginia Still

Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District (SCFPD) has a new interim Fire Chief, Eric Holly, after Fire Chief Mike Whorton retired earlier this month. Holly came out of retirement to assist the district and began his post on April 9. The appointment will continue for the next six months or until the Fire Chief position is filled permanently.

“I have been teaching part time for Cal OES,” stated Holly. “I have been teaching emergency management for them up and down the state. I was contacted by Stanislaus Consolidated and asked if I would be interested in assisting. Of course I would. I love these guys.”

Holly has had 30-plus years in the fire service where he started as a volunteer for the City of Turlock and Turlock Rural Volunteer Fire Department. He attended EMT school and worked full time for a local ambulance in Modesto for several years. Then he worked full time for the City of Ceres and spent five years working for Stanislaus County Emergency Services as the Deputy Fire Warden and Deputy Director.

It all started when his friend saw an ad in the paper for volunteer firefighters for the City of Turlock and “thought that would be fun.”

Born and raised in Turlock, Holly is very familiar with the area and has worked with SCFPD while working in Ceres and for OES for many years.

Holly retired from fire service over a year ago and has jumped right back in to assist the department during this time.

“I really am community oriented,” expressed Holly. “I like being involved and I like the fire department to be involved with the community in any way that we can. We are the community fire department. We are a special district … we just love to be a part of the community.”  

SCFPD Board Clerk Betty Hannah also retired earlier this month.

Noted on the scfpd.us website, The District staffs nine fire stations to provide fire and emergency medical services for 523 square miles. The Fire District serves approximately 217 square miles of unincorporated area including the cities of Waterford and Riverbank, and the communities of Empire, Hickman and LaGrange.