Manhattan Beach About Town
Newly appointed MBFD Chief Daryn Drum. Photo courtesy City of Manhattan Beach
Drum named
new MBFD chief
Daryn Drum has been appointed as the Manhattan Beach Fire Department’s 13th fire chief, ending a yearlong search during which MBPD Chief Derrick Abell served at the helm of both departments. The appointment of Drum, a 30-year veteran who most recently served as division chief for Heartland Fire & Rescue, was announced by City Manager Bruce Moe on Tuesday.
“We are excited to bring Daryn Drum onboard and welcome him to the Manhattan Beach family,” Moe said. “Throughout the recruitment process, Daryn’s leadership qualities set him apart and will make him a tremendous asset now and in the future for our fire department and the residents we serve.”
As a consolidated fire district near San Diego, Heartland Fire & Rescue is comprised of the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove. The jurisdiction serves a population of over 186,000 with eight fire stations, and responds to approximately 22,000 calls for emergency services each year.
Moe said that Drum “has a proven track record” as a leader with exceptional organizational, budgeting, planning and communication skills. Among his accomplishments were successfully negotiated mutual aid agreements with surrounding jurisdictions, his tenure as Chair of the San Diego County Fire Chiefs’ Association’s working group to develop a countywide policy for multi-casualty incidents, and his stint as president and chief labor negotiator for the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2728.
Previously, Drum held roles for Heartland Fire & Rescue as a Battalion Chief responsible for the Emergency Medical Services Division and Operations Division. Additionally, he held the position of Division Chief in the Training Division at the City of Lemon Grove.
Drum’s first day as Fire Chief will be April 8.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Moe said that Drum would have large shoes to fill, despite the fact that Abell served only a year as fire chief. He thanked Abell.
“He has done a remarkable job over the last 12 months, filling in,” Moe said. “He certainly stepped up in a difficult time for us and actually made the fire department ready for our new leadership. And [he] certainly brought police and fire closer together.”