Happy retirement Salinas Fire Chief Michele Vaughn
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) UPDATE May 9, 2022, at 9:34 a.m.-- Salinas Fire Chief Michele Vaughn bids farewell to the position she's held for the last two years after retiring on Sunday, May 8.
"Attention all units and stations, and especially by Michelle Vaughn, firefighters and firefighters, and staff," said the fire dispatcher wishing Chief Vaughn a happy retirement. "And the fire service of Monterey County would like to acknowledge and congratulate you on reducing the code two and continuing on your journey in your well-deserved retirement and a grateful community. Your service and leadership are one that has truly made a difference and we are forever grateful."
Michele has spent the last 22 years with the Salinas Fire Department, a profession she didn't even envision for herself at first.
"It was completely by accident. I was going down the physical therapy route, doing some clinical internships, and met some firefighters that were patients from various departments? And a few of them asked me, had I ever considered going into the fire service," said Chief Vaughn. "And after about the third person asked me that over the course of about a year, I'm like, We're missing the boat years, and I become a firefighter. So I signed up for a fire science program and an EMT program probably in 1997 or 98. And here I am; 24 years total is what I am considering my fire service career. Twenty-two of those being here in Salinas."
Chief Vaughn added that being fire chief for Salinas was "the best job in the world." That those who think fire service isn't for them should at least give it a try because that's how she got in that line of work.
She especially wants to see more women get into fire service because she said if she can make it in fire service, why can't they?
"I am retiring a couple of years earlier than I had intended to. My husband was in the fire service for 28 years, and he just recently retired. So we made the decision for myself to retire so that we could we could start, you know, being our own family at home. Again, I had good successes here, not because of myself. It's because of everybody I've worked with and had interactions with and built relationships with. It's very surreal, and it's very bittersweet for me. I think the hardest part of leaving is going to be I love the city. I've been super loyal to the city. They gave me the opportunity 22 years ago, and I'll never forget that. "
ORIGINAL STORY
Salinas Fire Chief Michele Vaughn announced her retirement after taking over as chief on September 4, 2020.
Vaughn said her retirement date is May 8 of, 2022.
"This is a bittersweet moment," shares Chief Vaughn. "As I started in the fire service, I never envisioned myself as Fire Chief for this great city. I will take many lifelong memories and friendships with me as I transition into this next chapter of my life. It has truly been an honor to serve Salinas and our Fire Department for the last 22 years."
She has spent 22 years servicing the Salinas Community and rose through the ranks from Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief, and Interim Fire Chief, leading to her appointment as Chief of the SFD.
