Palm Springs Fire Chief Paul Alvarado will retire on Nov. 2, ending a 35-year career in fire service — the last three years of which were in Palm Springs.
The retirement marks the third high-ranking city official to leave his position in the last quarter of 2026. Former Police Chief Andy Mills retired in September. City Manager Scott Stiles is set to retire on Nov. 1.
Alvarado joined the Palm Springs Fire Department from Long Beach to be the chief in 2023. He oversaw the local response to Tropical Storm Hilary in August 2023 and the fertility clinic bombing in downtown Palm Springs in May 2025.
"Serving as Fire Chief of Palm Springs has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished
together,” Alvarado said in a news release. “Every accomplishment reflects the dedication and professionalism of the men and women who serve this community every day. It has been an extraordinary honor to lead this department, and I leave with tremendous gratitude for the support of the City Council, City Manager, our employees and the Palm Springs community.”
Stiles thanked the chief for his service to the city in the release.
"His commitment to public safety, investing in our firefighters and planning for the future has strengthened our Fire Department and made a lasting impact on our community," he said.
The city plans to appoint a acting chief within the next week. The release did not say how the city planned to search for the next permanent chief or what the timeline would be.
Sam Morgen covers local government for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Another high-ranking city official set to retire in Palm Springs
