At a Glance
- Sam DiGiovanna, 40-year fire service veteran and Monrovia Fire Chief, died New Year’s Eve after a heart attack
- Known as “Chief Sam,” he spent recent years training firefighters at Verdugo Academy and guiding News Of Los Angeles viewers through wildfires and disasters
- Why it matters: His calm explanations and safety tips helped millions of Southern Californians prepare for earthquakes, floods and wildfires
Beloved fire service veteran Sam DiGiovanna died at age 66 on New Year’s Eve, weeks after suffering a heart attack. The former Monrovia Fire Department chief spent over four decades in uniform and became a trusted voice on News Of Los Angeles newscasts during wildfires, earthquakes and floods.
From Firefighter to Chief
DiGiovanna’s career began at age 18 when he joined the Monrovia Fire Department as a firefighter. He rose through every rank-firefighter, captain, battalion chief-before becoming chief at age 45. After retiring in 2006, he took over as chief of the Verdugo Fire Academy in Glendale, a post he held for 18 years.
At the academy he:
- Mentored thousands of recruits now serving across Southern California
- Served as liaison to the California Fire Marshal’s Office
- Helped build community partnerships in the San Gabriel Valley
Glendale Fire Chief Jeff Brooks estimates 30% of his department came through the Verdugo program. “Just a genuinely good human being,” Brooks said. “Sam was one of those guys who would text me, literally almost every day. And it would always be something encouraging, or a scripture, or something else.”
A Mentor Who Changed Lives
Jeremy Sanchez, current Monrovia Fire Chief, credits DiGiovanna for launching his career. “Prior to me being hired, he saw that I was looking to get into paramedic school, and he found a way to sponsor me to paramedic school and gave me the opportunity with the city of Monrovia,” Sanchez said. “Truly, I think that was in him, the mentorship, the energy, and the passion for people.”
The Monrovia Fire Department posted a tribute on Instagram: “Chief DiGiovanna dedicated 26 years to the City of Monrovia, serving with distinction in every role he held… His commitment to the fire service did not end there. He went on to spend more than 15 years shaping future generations as Chief of the Verdugo Fire Academy.”
The Calm Voice in Crisis
Viewers knew him as “Chief Sam,” the steady expert who explained evacuation orders, wind patterns and mudslide risks during live coverage. When January 2025 wildfires exploded across the region, he spent days in the News Of Los Angeles newsroom breaking down rapidly changing conditions.
His on-air segments translated complex science into clear steps:
- Why recently burned hillsides turn to mud in the next storm
- Warning signs of an impending landslide
- How to prepare a 5-minute evacuation kit
Digital producers still use his bullet-point safety lists for earthquakes, floods and windstorms.
Safety Advice Beyond Disasters
DiGiovanna’s columns covered more than headline events:
- Holiday fire hazards most families miss
- Heat-illness prevention tricks for record heat waves
- Mental-health resources for first responders
- What to do-and not do-during a rattlesnake encounter on trails
He authored dozens of articles for News Of Los Angeles.com, each mixing technical knowledge with empathy. “Things are changing. It happens quietly,” he wrote in his final California Fire Service Magazine piece, published December 18. “You’re busy working, raising kids, paying bills, rushing through days that feel too short. And then one afternoon, you go home to visit your parents and something soft inside you shifts.”
Statewide Influence
Beyond local departments, DiGiovanna served as director of the California State Firefighters’ Association Board and chief author of California Fire Service Magazine. The board’s statement praised “the great generosity of his time, impeccable integrity, and the positive example and work ethic he set every day.”
Fire agencies across Southern California posted tributes, calling him a giant whose influence will outlive him through every firefighter he trained and every viewer he reassured.
Key Takeaways
- Sam DiGiovanna spent 48 years in fire service, 26 with Monrovia and 18 leading the Verdugo Academy
- As News Of Los Angeles‘s on-air expert, he guided viewers through wildfires, quakes and storms with calm clarity
- Colleagues remember him for daily encouragement, quiet sponsorships and a relentless drive to leave the profession better than he found it
