Capt. Torres receives City Manager Leadership Award for month of August

Interim City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly presented the City Manager Leadership Award for August to Fire Captain Chuck Torres.

“As Chief Stefano says, to know Capt. Torres is to love him, and we can all see why. He’s fun-loving and personable but he also has a serious side where he gets the job done well. I appreciate his leadership and dedication to our City and am happy to present him this award.”

Torres joined Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue in April 2002. He was promoted to Fire Captain in 2017 and has been active with many committees within the department, complimented with a strong passion for teaching, training, and professional development.

He has provided notable leadership in developing, managing, coordinating, and/or guiding a number of key programs and events for the department and the city including the annual CMFR Open House Fire Expo, Santa Ana College fire technology presentations.

He also served as the MC for the annual city picnic and Snoopy House events, among many other touches.

Capt. Torres became interested in the fire service after reading an article in the OC Register announcing the opening of Costa Mesa’s Fire Station 6. Soon after that, he graduated from the 96^th Basic Fire Academy at Santa Ana College.

After graduating from the academy with an A.S in Fire Technology, he worked as a reserve firefighter for the Fountain Valley Fire Department. While with Fountain Valley, he attended Saddleback College’s Paramedic program and started his career as a paramedic with AMR in San Bernardino City.

While working towards a career as a Firefighter/Paramedic, he worked as a lifeguard with the City of Huntington Beach for seven years, promoting through the ranks to a Lifeguard III supervisor.

Torres was ultimately hired as a Firefighter/Paramedic by the Monterey Park Fire Department in October 2000 before leaving that job for Costa Mesa.

Capt. Torres has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Management, and Administration from Vanguard University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and was one of the keynote speakers at the commencement ceremony.