Morongo Valley Fire Department welcomes lifelong firefighter Chief Caltabiano to the team

The Morongo Valley Fire Department recently acquired a new fire chief with over 25-years of experience, Michael Caltabiano. Reporter Gabriel Hart sat down with Chief Caltabiano to gain insight on his long history with firefighting and what he’d like to see for MVFD.

Born and raised in San Jose, CA, Caltabiano started in the Fire Service at age fifteen as a fire explorer in Fremont, California. After graduating high school, he moved out to the Mojave Valley/Fort Mojave area in Arizona where he was a reserve firefighter for five years. In 1998, Caltabiano was hired by Yuma Fire Department where he served 21+ years before transferring to Victorville Fire Department. After leaving Victorville, he was retired for three years but eventually felt the need to return to the fire service. Now splitting his time between Oceanside and Yucca Valley, Chief Caltabiano is back in uniform at the Morongo Valley Fire Department. 

He’ll be spending the coming days behind the desk handling administrative duties and setting policy. Aware that MVFD tends to struggle with budget and is challenged with staffing, Caltabiano says he’d like to see another measure on the ballot that could increase the percentage tax for the fire district to increase the budget and provide better service. “If we want to mirror what Cal Fire provides down the hill and what County Fire provides up the hill, we’re nowhere near that budget-wise,” he says. Caltabiano has since been very active at the MVCSD meetings bringing a balance of direct communication and level temperament to the group dynamic.