San Luis Obispo Fire Chief Garret Olson — whose six years of leadership have been marked by improvements in safety and technology but also a costly controversy — is retiring after a 30-year firefighting career.
Olson, whose last day is set for Oct. 30, updated firefighters’ protective gear and older city facilities, upgraded the radio system and established a fire apparatus replacement program, according to city officials.
He also championed the city’s participation in the PulsePoint smart-phone app, which anyone can download to be notified if someone in their vicinity is suffering from a heart attack and 911 has been called. The systems allows for a potentially quicker CPR response if citizens can arrive faster than first responders, potentially saving lives because of the short window in a dire cardiac emergency.