Camino – David Wood has been appointed by CAL FIRE Director Joe Tyler as the next Unit Chief of the Amador-El Dorado Unit (AEU), effective November 17, 2025. Chief Wood is currently spending his first month in a training and mentoring role under Chief Mike Blankenheim and will assume full responsibility for the Unit on December 19, 2025, following Chief Blankenheim’s retirement.
Chief Wood began his fire service career in 1995 as a volunteer firefighter with the Wilton Fire Protection District. In 1996, he started his CAL FIRE career as a Firefighter I in AEU. He has worked in both Schedule A and Schedule B assignments, serving in various capacities including Firefighter, Fire Apparatus Engineer, Fire Apparatus Engineer Paramedic, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief, and Deputy Chief of Operations. His assignments have included positions in AEU, CAL FIRE Headquarters, and as a Limited Term Unit Chief in the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit.
Chief Wood has served as a member of Incident Management Teams for more than ten years. He currently serves as the Deputy Incident Commander on CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 and the Sacramento Regional Type 3 Team.
Chief Wood has been actively involved in several CAL FIRE training cadres, including the Incident Management 3 cadre, C-300 Initial Attack to Extended Attack, C-400 Extended Attack to Major Incident, C-420 Command and General Staff, and the Complex Incident Management Course.
Chief Wood resides in El Dorado County with his wife and their two sons. As a family, they enjoy spending time outdoors – playing sports, swimming, and camping.
Please join us in congratulating Chief Wood on his new assignment.