Beverly Hills Fire Chief Greg Barton will step down once a successor is hired, the city announced Friday, July 10. No timeline for the search has been set.

Barton, who has led the Beverly Hills Fire Department for nine years, will remain in the role through the recruitment process. He served the department for more than 31 years.

"I have contemplated retirement for several years, but this decision is not easy," Barton said in a statement released by the city. "On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to express my eternal gratitude to the members of the Beverly Hills community and my colleagues across the organization for their decades of support and friendship."

City Manager Ryan Gohlich praised Barton's tenure, saying the chief earned "the respect and admiration of residents, business leaders, and City staff" over three decades. Gohlich said he is grateful Barton agreed to stay on through the transition.

The retirement means Beverly Hills is now searching for two public safety leaders at once. Police Chief Mark Stainbrook retired Friday, June 26, after nearly five years with the city.

Awards and community ties

Barton's career included multiple honors: Firefighter of the Year recognitions from the Kiwanis Club, the BHFD Felix Rothschild Award, and recognition from the Beverly Hills Masonic Lodge. In 2021, the Beverly Hills City Council presented him with the Fred C. Cunningham Award for Distinguished Service, the city's highest recognition for community service.

Outside the firehouse, Barton serves on the boards of several charitable organizations and is past president of the Beverly Hills Rotary Club. At the annual Backdraft Ball on Wednesday, April 30, he presented the Felix Rothschild Firefighter of the Year Award to Fire Captain Jake Morrow. That event raised over $500,000 for the Beverly Hills Firefighters' Relief Fund, a record for the gala.

Wildfire preparedness work continues

Barton's departure comes as the department continues work on its Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which included a community survey among its 2025 outreach activities, according to city records.

At a Municipal League of Beverly Hills town hall on Tuesday, June 10, Barton told approximately 40 residents he believes the destruction seen in the Palisades Fire could not happen in Beverly Hills because of the department's preparedness and coordination across city agencies. He described calling Public Works Director Shana Epstein before Red Flag Warnings to ensure city reservoirs are filled to capacity for firefighting.

The department also monitors weather from an automated remote weather station in Franklin Canyon and maintains a comprehensive brush-clearing program, an ordinance requiring removal of wood roofs, and systematic evacuation routes.

No date has been set for Barton's final day. Residents with questions can contact Deputy City Manager Keith Sterling at [email protected].