Long Beach deputy chief picked for top H.B. Fire Department job

David Segura on Wednesday was named the new fire chief for the Huntington Beach Fire Department.

Segura, 55, the deputy fire chief in Long Beach, who has lived in Surf City for the last 16 years, is a 32-year veteran of fire service work.

Since joining the Long Beach Fire Department in 1986, he has served as a firefighter, paramedic, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief and deputy chief, according to a statement from Huntington Beach on Wednesday.

“I firmly believe David is well qualified for this position, and the men and women of the Fire Department will be well-served with him as the new chief,” Huntington Beach City Manager Fred Wilson said in the statement. “David brings with him a good mix of strategic planning, community engagement and organizational development.”

Though Wilson’s office named Segura as the new fire chief, the Huntington Beach City Council will need to approve his contract. The matter is on the agenda for the council’s meeting Monday. Should the council members vote to hire Segura, he would assume his new duties April 4.

“I am excited and honored to be joining the Huntington Beach Fire Department as its chief,” Segura said in the statement Wednesday. “I am looking forward to meeting the men and women of the department, getting to know the community and improving upon what is already an established department.”

Segura’s last day with the Long Beach Fire Department is March 18. He was responsible for recruiting and screening new firefighters, according to a statement from Long Beach.

In Huntington Beach, Segura would be taking over the helm from former Fire Chief Patrick McIntosh, who retired in November after about six years with the department. Most of McIntosh’s 36-year career in fire services was spent with the Orange County Fire Authority.

McIntosh joined the department during the economic downturn, which started in 2008, and had to maintain a high level of service in the wake of numerous personnel cuts. McIntosh said in October that he believes he has left the Huntington Beach department in better shape than when he arrived.

Huntington Beach conducted a national search for a new fire chief after McIntosh’s departure in November.