George J. Cavallero took over as the fifth Novato Fire Chief in the 1950's. He oversaw the construction of a new fire station in the San Marin subdivision. In 1969 Chief Cavallero died in the line of duty while responding to a structure fire, later determined to be arson, at the old Burdell Mansion, at the location of what is now Olompali State Park. He suffered a heart attack on the road, and crashed off the road and later died. Cavallero is honored with a plaque outside the Novato Fire Protection District's administrative building. Story to follow.