Fire Chief
Carl Bittenbender
Chief Carl Bittenbender proudly leads Evesham Fire-Rescue, overseeing daily operations and reporting directly to the Board of Fire Commissioners. With 27 years in emergency services, Carl began his career in 1996, volunteering with the University of Delaware EMS and Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company in Newark, DE. After earning his degree from the University of Delaware, he became a career firefighter in New Castle County, Delaware, before joining Evesham Fire-Rescue as a Firefighter/EMT in August 2002. He advanced through the ranks, becoming Lieutenant in 2005, Captain in 2012, Assistant Chief in 2018, and Chief in 2019.
Carl holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Delaware and a Master of Science in Public Safety from Saint Joseph’s University, earned in 2004. He completed the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program in 2012 and obtained a second Master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia Southern University in 2022. Carl is also a Nationally Registered Paramedic, having received an Associate’s Degree from Camden County College. Carl is also a 2012 graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program.
Throughout his tenure, Chief Bittenbender has served in various capacities, including the Operations and Training Divisions and the Fire Marshal’s Office. He is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators and holds licenses in multiple construction disciplines, including fire subcode official and mechanical codes. His professional affiliations include the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association, and the International Association of Arson Investigators.
In addition to his leadership role at Evesham Fire-Rescue, Chief Bittenbender serves as the Burlington County Technical Rescue Task Force and LandSAR Task Force Leader and is the ESF9 (Emergency Services Function 9) coordinator for Burlington County. This team coordinates multiple departments to perform specialized rescues and land searches for missing persons. He also serves as the President of the Burlington County Fire Chiefs Association.
A resident of Evesham Township since 2002, Chief Bittenbender lives with his wife Erin and their children, Avery and Gavin. He is actively involved with the Marlton Recreation Council as President and enjoys coaching his children in hockey, golfing, and offshore fishing in his spare time.
