The Board of Supervisors honored retiring CAL FIRE Unit Chief Brian Estes at its Nov. 18 meeting for his remarkable career.
“You have been an exceptional leader and that has kept us all safe,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Heidi Hall.
Estes began his firefighting career as a Firefighter I in southeast San Diego County and later joined a CAL FIRE helicopter crew in Tuolumne County, promoting to Fire Apparatus Engineer in the Amador El Dorado Unit. Over the years, Estes advanced through key leadership roles, including assistant chief of operations, deputy chief of cperations, and ultimately unit chief for the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit and fire chief of the Placer County Fire Department.
Supervisors praised Estes’ responsiveness and open communication style. “Any time we have a question about anything, you have been willing to come and answer our questions,” said Supervisor Lisa Swarthout.
Supervisor Hardy Bullock said Estes often sent text messages around the clock whenever there was an incident affecting the county. “A lot of times, that would be my first notification of the incident.”
County Executive Officer Alison Lehman praised Estes for going above and beyond to help Nevada County residents. After one severe snowstorm, Estes assisted an elderly couple on a remote part of the San Juan Ridge with getting firewood.
Estes in turn said he enjoyed working with Nevada County leaders. “The thing that I’ve had that’s the most special over the last eight years in Nevada County here is the friendships and the personal relationships that I’ve built with all of you,” he said.
He said he knows the unit will be in good hands under the leadership of new unit Fire Chief Jim Hudson. “I’ve built a pretty darn good team and that team will take this leadership of this unit and service of Nevada County into the future,” Estes said. I don’t think you’ll see even a ripple in the water. “