LONG BEACH : 29-Year Veteran Named to Post of Fire Chief
Long Beach will ring in the New Year with a new fire chief, city officials announced Wednesday.
Harold Omel Jr. won the job over three other applicants, all from within the Long Beach Fire Department, and will take over the position from Chief Chris Hunter on Saturday.
Omel joined the Long Beach Fire Department in 1964 and became one of 14 battalion chiefs in 1989. A fire station in the city was named for Omel in 1987. President of the local firefighters union for the past 21 years and current secretary-treasurer of the 22,000-member California Professional Firefighters union, Omel will resign from his union duties to take over the top management job.
Omel, who will receive a salary of about $100,000, will preside over a department with 533 firefighters and staff members, 23 fire stations and a $55-million annual budget.
Hunter is resigning after 27 years on the force, four as chief.
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