By Karen Pearlman
April 15, 2026 (Boulevard) --- Mark Ostrander, a dedicated public servant, retired Cal Fire Battalion Chief and cornerstone of the San Diego backcountry, passed away after having a heart attack on Feb. 1, 2026. He was 69.
A man defined by what friends describe as a "servant’s heart," Ostrander left a deep mark in the region and the people he spent his life protecting.
Born on Jan. 17, 1957, in Perris, California, Ostrander was the eldest of 14 children, a role that continued along his life path as a caretaker and leader.
Ostrander studied fire science in Northern California but two credits shy of a degree, at 18, he answered a calling to the fire service, a commitment that would span 37 years.
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