Fire marshal says goodbye

Newport Beach’s fire marshal, Steve Bunting, is retiring after 31 years with the department.

Bunting’s last day is today. He will be replaced by Battalion Chief Rob Gamble.

Bunting joined the department in May 1979 and previously worked as a firefighter and inspector for Stanton. With Newport Beach he has been a fire captain with the fire prevention division, a part of the hazardous materials team and an arson investigator. Among Bunting’s duties was inspecting homes and commercial buildings for fire safety code violations and the high-risk areas of the city vulnerable in the case of a wild fire.

Deputy Fire Chief Dave Mais, who briefly acted as interim chief following Steve Lewis’ retirement in February, is also retiring Sunday.

Joseph Serna