 |
| Ken Helgerson, the fire chief of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Fire Department, poses in front of a fire engine at Camp Pendleton Fire Station 7, in the 52 Area on Camp Pendleton, California, May 4, 2020. Helgerson has been fire chief since January. Helgerson is a native of Somerset, Massachusetts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Drake Nickels.) |
CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES
05.04.2020
Story by Lance Cpl. Drake Nickels
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
The Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Fire Department has a new leader for the upcoming fire season. As of January, Chief Ken Helgerson has taken the reins as the new fire chief.
Helgerson may be new to the Camp Pendleton Fire Department but is no stranger to leadership in the firefighting community. He served as a firefighter with the U.S. Air Force for 20 years and retired from active duty in 2005. Since then, he has held the role of fire chief at three other installations.
“Camp Pendleton feels like a natural fit,” said Helgerson. “My focus is to make sure we are doing everything in the way we are supposed to according to policy.”
Helgerson is in charge of over 100 firefighters spread across 11 stations that respond to all emergency calls on Camp Pendleton. The firefighters stay vigilant by strategically placing gear and personnel in different areas of the installation.
“I promote the firefighters handling and managing stress with the hazards they are presented with,” said Helgerson. “The ability to do that has to be generated with resources, by putting the right amount of people and equipment in the right places.”
While also working with the resources inside the gate, Helgerson also works with neighboring communities and their departments to ensure aid, training, resources and personnel are given where it's needed.
“The mutual aid partnership is about working together to ensure readiness for large scale emergencies,” added Helgerson. “It's important to get a large response footprint.”
Similar to the Marine Corps, the Camp Pendleton Fire Department leadership may change but the mission continues. Helgerson and his team are a key component to ensuring Marines continue to train while keeping the installation and the community safe.
