Steve McKinster named next fire chief in City of Riverside

Deputy Fire Chief Steve McKinster has been named the city’s next fire chief, officials announced Monday.

McKinster has 29 years of experience in the firefighting, including 25 with the Riverside Fire Department, according to a city statement. His tenure as chief starts Oct. 10.

McKinster has held the rank of chief officer for 12 years. His most recently post was deputy chief for administration.

He will replace Chief Michael Moore, who is retiring after a decade as chief in Riverside and more than 42 years as a firefighter.

McKinster was selected after a three-month national recruitment effort that considered 37 candidates, officials said.

“Steve McKinster is the right combination of leadership, management expertise, and professionalism to lead RFD moving forward,” City Manager Mike Futrell said in a statement. “His commitment to Riverside, his integrity, and his understanding of this community’s needs set him apart as our department’s next chief.”

McKinster has experience in leadership positions ranging from fire operations, fire prevention, training and urban search and rescue, according to the city statement.

“His deep knowledge of special operations, emergency medical services and disaster emergency response have helped him create strong relationships with other city departments, as well as external agencies, and the state and federal government,” the city statement said.

“I have a clear vision for keeping us focused on our daily mission of service while also looking forward to future opportunities for growth,” McKinster said in a statement. “Every action I take is driven by a heartfelt desire to make a positive impact and ensure the safety and well-being of both our department members and the community.”

As deputy fire chief of administration for the last two years, McKinster has overseen three divisions — Fire Prevention, Urban Search and Rescue and Fire Investigations. Personnel in the divisions include 26 employees, eight search dogs and volunteer members of California Task Force 6. In that role McKinster supervised administrative functions such as budgeting and finance, contracts and purchasing, labor relations and other tasks.

Prior to that position, McKinster spent seven years as an Urban Search and Rescue division chief. He supervised and coordinated four full-time staff members and more than 200 personnel across six agencies. He also supervised 21 members of the city of Riverside’s Technical Rescue Team.

McKinster received a paramedic license from Daniel Freeman Paramedic School, an associate’s degree in fire science from Mount San Jacinto College and a bachelor’s degree in organization leadership from Azuza Pacific University.