Ripon Fire Battalion Chief Badged As Permanent Fire Chief for French Camp

In a 6:00 PM Tuesday evening ceremony longtime Ripon Battalion Chief Marty Cornilsen was pinned with

Newly appointed French Camp Fire Chief Marty Cornilsen.

the badge of the new French Camp-McKinley Rural District Fire Chief with ceremonies in the open bays of the French Camp facility.

Having served some 26 years in the fire service, neither his Ripon shift nor three of his new French Camp firefighters were present, all having been sent as strike teams to the fast-spreading Caldor Fire in El Dorado County. Members of Cornilsen's family were on hand to applaud his new position.

The ceremonial swearing-in was presented by Fire District's San Joaquin County Supervisor Miguel Villapuda with his chief of staff Chris Rouppet. He was welcomed by a half dozen French Camp firefighters.

Cornilsen was formally introduced to the audience by Fire Board President Mary Nicholson who introduced her four board members, two men, and three women. They included Philip George, Vice-Chair; James Larry Lee, Gloria Murphy, and Rosemarie Zanini.

The former Ripon Battalion Chief was always seen as a smiling and happy member for the community as he served that community for over 30 years.