Morongo Valley Assistant Fire Chief Daniel Casner returns to the department where he started in the early 90s

While 2026 saw major shifts of the Morongo Valley Fire Department chiefs, there is now a solid command structure of three: Battalion Chief Ryan McEachen, Volunteer Fire Chief Paul Lindley, and the newly appointed Assistant Fire Chief Daniel Casner, who returns to the Morongo Valley Fire Department since he “cut his teeth” there in 1992. Many are hesitant to call Morongo Valley Fire a training department, but Casner pridefully says that’s essentially what it is.

“My primary goal is to protect the citizens of Morongo, and to make sure that my firefighters go home safe to their family and get the training experience they need so that they could be the best firefighters they can when they get hired by someplace else. I used to work for a lot of fire chiefs that would take offense when people left. It’s like, ‘Chief, you need to understand we need you to juice these guys for as much time as impossible, but we need to give these guys the opportunity to move on to where they wanna go.’ And this place gave me that,” said Casner. 

Casner rose through the ranks from volunteer firefighter to volunteer engineer, to volunteer captain before he moved on to his career department.

“I did my entire career and now that I have an opportunity to come back and give back. Because that’s what it’s about: making sure you leave it better than when you found it,” said Casner.

Both Chief Lindley and Chief Casner are on volunteer status at Morongo Valley; Casner’s other job is with the California Office of Emergency Services where he teaches Hazmat (hazardous materials). Since he is only at the station on Thursdays, he is confident with Chief McEachen managing most of the daily duties, and Chief Lindley coming in to address larger issues.

“The last thing I want to do as the assistant chief is step on anybody’s toes. I’m using this as an opportunity just like I used it when I was here in the early 90s: I’m getting my experience and my training. Because when I get a little more gray hairs, I plan on becoming a Fire Chief someplace and this is a golden opportunity to learn from one of the best, which is Lindley.”

Casner only receives a small stipend for his volunteer work and often uses his own money for basic necessities around the station. To him, his pride in the Morongo Valley Fire Department is all worth it.

“I’m as proud of this as I was proud of this place in the early 90s. The pride of any community is the fire station,” said Casner.