Battalion Chief Returns to His Roots

When he’s not responding to a fire, the west San Fernando Valley’s new battalion chief plans to spend time reaching out to the community where he grew up.

“For the longest time, the Fire Department has been considered intangible. I want to break down those walls,” said Battalion Chief Mark R. Jones, who works out of Fire Station 72 on De Soto Avenue. “It will be a challenge, but it will be a lot of fun.”

Jones, 44, intends to visit schools, religious institutions and Chamber of Commerce functions in an effort to boost public relations and educate people about issues like fire safety and appropriate 911 calls.

An Encino native, Jones graduated from El Camino Real High School in 1972 and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public administration from Cal State Northridge.

Looking for an exciting job, he joined the Fire Department in 1977 at a time when 10,000 people were competing for 200 to 300 job openings.

He started as a firefighter in downtown Los Angeles, then drove an aerial ladder truck and worked as a fire inspector. For 11 years, he was a captain at Station 72 before being promoted to battalion chief last year, working out of Station 66 in South-Central Los Angeles. A career highlight was helping rescue a janitor trapped in the 62-story First Interstate Tower fire in 1988.

In July, he returned to Station 72 as battalion chief, overseeing Battalion 17, which includes seven fire stations covering more than 38 square miles.

Although Jones lives on a two-acre macadamia nut ranch in Camarillo, his heart is in the Valley.

“I always wanted to come back and work in the community where I grew up and got married,” Jones said. “I’m glad to be back here.”