‘He’s going to do a fabulous job:’ changing of the guard for Burbank fire
When Eric Garcia first joined the Burbank Fire Department, he didn’t think this moment would happen.
Back when he was starting out as a recruit in 1994, he was content with becoming a paramedic engineer. The 46-year-old said he always wanted to become a paramedic and was pretty adept at being a mechanic.
Now, Garcia will lead the department as its new chief. He’ll succeed Tom Lenahan, who announced his retirement in October.
Heading into his new role, Garcia will have to contend with a citywide budget deficit that’s expected to balloon to $27.4 million by the 2022-23 fiscal year. The budget shortfall will preclude the department from implementing any new policies, he said.
However, it doesn’t entirely prevent the department from exploring the possibility of new policies.
“One of the main things I like to see is to really get our guys focused and dialed in on our culture aligned with innovation and creativity,” he said.
Garcia said he wants the department to research different ways its ambulances are deployed in the field so its paramedics are better prepared to deal with any and every kind of medical emergency.
He said he’s also hoping to address the mental well-being of firefighters in addition to their physical fitness, which is an issue that’s being increasingly recognized by fire departments statewide.
“[We] want to look at something that’s to be a program that will evolve from primarily a physical standpoint to one that accounts for a firefighter’s psychological well-being as well,” Garcia said.
Garcia’s appointment comes after a two-month internal search involving various interviews and tests, a process he described as “highly stressful.”
“It had a lot of emotion tied to it,” he said. “When I got the call [to become chief], it was exciting and nice to know that the effort that went in paid off.”
Lenahan, 56, said he was excited by the appointment of his successor. Garcia “has the integrity, dedication, leadership, maturity … to lead Burbank fire into great new heights,” he said.
“I’m just so happy and proud that I could turn the department over to Eric,” Lenahan said. “He’s going to do a fabulous job.”
With over 30 years of public service under his belt, including a stint as a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Lenahan said the time was right to leave the fire department.
However, he won’t be out of firefighting.
Lenahan is heading a few miles westward to oversee Hollywood Burbank Airport’s fire department.
Looking back on his career, one of the accomplishments Lenahan said he’s most proud of is the department’s international accreditation with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and its recognition as a Class 1 fire department, which means the department is recognized as having a quick response time, rigorous training for personnel and a high commitment to firefighting.
“There are a very small percentage of fire departments in the United States with both recognitions,” he said. “It’s something I’m very proud of and the staff worked hard on it.”
Lenahan said he was also grateful to have worked alongside many talented men and women in the department over the years. He singled out his executive assistant, Robina Sarkisian, and fire administrator Sana Arakelian Ford as two people who “really made the department look good and made me look good.”
Lenahan officially stepped down from the job Thursday during a change-of-command ceremony at the department’s headquarters. He said such a ceremony hadn’t been held in 27 years because the outgoing and incoming chiefs were typically unavailable to be together at the same time.
At the end of the ceremony, Lenahan removed his chief’s badge, which was then given to Garcia.
“Out with the old, and in with the new,” Lenahan said before the ceremony.
Twitter: @Andy_Truc
