Mark Baker

PASSAGES: MARK BAKER, FORMER LAKSEIDE FIRE CHIEF (1953-2023)

 

East County News Service

August 5, 2023 (Lakeside) – Lakeside Fire Protection District Director and former Fire Chief Mark Thomas Baker died July 10 after complications following a medical procedure for a heart issue.

“He was dedicated to his work to ensure the success of the Lakeside Fire District and the safety of the residents he served,” says a statement from the district on Facebook, which voiced “great sadness” at his passing.

The California Fire Chiefs Association issued a statement recalling Chief Baker as not only “a dedicated professional, but he was also a kind-hearted individual with a great sense of humor. He brought joy to those around him and always had a smile on his face.  He will be greatly missed by all those in the fire service that not only knew him, but also looked to him as a leader and mentor."


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

CANDIDATES' VALUES CLASH IN LAKESIDE FIRE DISTRICT RACE

Former Chief Runs Against One of the Board Members Who Fired Him

By Mark Gabrish Conlan

October 8, 2012 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Fire Protection District contains 55 square miles of land, 65,000 people, and according to its website, http://www.lakesidefire.net, “is primarily suburban residential but also has several core commercial zones, some light industry, and many rural/agricultural properties.” It has a significant wildland/urban interface — firefighter-speak for places where homebuilders have butted developments up against forests and other wild areas. In the last decade, that has proven a recipe for brewing out-of-control fires that have threatened properties and claimed lives—particularly here in Lakeside, which has been devastated by several of the worst wildfires in county history.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

CHALLENGERS VIE FOR SEATS ON LAKESIDE COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP


October 31, 2010 (Lakeside) – Nine people are running for seven seats on the Lakeside Planning Group, an advisory board to the County on local planning issues. Six are incumbents (Julie Bugbee, Chad Ennis, Emad Bakeer, Thomas Medvitz, Anton Botter, and Glenn Inverso). Three are challengers: retired Lakeside Fire Chief Mark Baker, East County Community Action Coalition co-founder Laura Cyphert, and Jeffrey Brust, a construction contractor.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

LAKESIDE FIRE BOARD VOTES TO OUST FIRE CHIEF

Move ignites anger among many community members; residents convene meeting Friday to discuss recall of Board members

 

January 20, 2010 (Lakeside) – By a 3-2 vote, Lakeside’s Fire Protection District on Saturday voted to oust Fire Chief Mark Baker, despite testimony from 18 members of the public who all spoke in favor of renewing Baker’s contract.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

EDITORIAL: LAKESIDE FIRE CHIEF MARK BAKER, YOU ARE GOING TO BE MISSED

 

FIRE BOARD AXES ITS CHIEF

 

 By Dennis Richardson

 

January 16, 2010 (Lakeside) -- The Lakeside Fire Board fired our Chief for doing his job far above the expectations. The rushed lynching of Chief Mark Baker was not announced or publicized to the public by the Fire Board.

 

This firing was done with the hearing room filled with his supporters who all voiced their heart-filled opinions to keep him; standing room only. The board went against the public outcry to keep Chief Baker.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Weddings in East County

Hot Coupons