New interim fire chief for Lake Valley Fire Protection District

MEYERS, Calif. - Starting Wednesday, March 18, Lake Valley Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Brad Zlendick will be moving into the role of Interim Fire Chief. The current chief, Tim Alameda, will be retiring starting May 9, but he will be using accrued vacation and sick time until then.

Chief Zlendick is a 32-year veteran in public safety. His career has covered several different first responder positions - United States Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Ambulance, as a reserve firefighter with the City of South Lake Tahoe and as a volunteer with Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD). Chief Zlendick’s professional career with LVFPD began in August of 1993. He has performed the duties of firefighter, engineer, captain, fire marshal, operations chief, training chief, and firefighter association president.

Chief Zlendick grew up in South Lake Tahoe and Meyers, attending local schools and graduating from South Tahoe High in 1988. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada’s public administration program and has an A.A. in Fire Science. He will have his B.S. in Fire Administration and Investigations this fall.

Chief Alameda noted that Brad has three things going on, “work, home, and church.”

Zlendick is described as a family man and is devoted to the community, agency and its staff. In one sentence the new interim chief stated, “I’ve grown up in this community, I understand how Lake Valley Fire serves and protects our residents and visitors; that is our mission.”

The Zlendick family in the photo above: Wife Karen Zlendick, and clockwise, daughter Briley and daughter Brooklyn.