FOUNTAIN VALLEY : City Selects New Fire Dept. Chief

Bernard F. Heimos, Garden Grove Fire Department’s division chief and fire marshal, will become fire chief in Fountain Valley, city officials have announced.

Heimos, who has served with the Garden Grove Fire Department since August, 1974, begins his new position Monday, officials said. He will oversee a department of 41 employees, including 38 firefighters at two stations, with a budget of $4.6 million.

Heimos, 46, replaces Richard E. Jorgensen, who retired in December after 12 years as chief.

City Manager Ray Kromer said Heimos was selected from a pool of 14 candidates working at fire departments in Orange County, neighboring counties and Northern California.

Heimos was selected because of his wide range of experience, including 11 years in management, Kromer said.

“He has a view of the big picture of the fire service and overall city operations,” Kromer said.

Heimos, a Huntington Beach resident, has also held the ranks of battalion chief, suppression captain, emergency service coordinator and fire inspector. Before moving to Orange County, he served as a firefighter for three years in Des Plaines, Ill.

In an interview, Heimos said he has been looking for a position as chief for the past several years. “I was looking for a certain type of city and community where I felt my administrative and fire service background would fit,” he said. “Fountain Valley was a perfect fit.”

Heimos said that what impressed him most about the city was the emphasis on “customer service” and that in the months ahead he will find ways to emphasize that.

“There’s always ways to look at the public’s needs,” he said. “I guess I’ve never really been satisfied with the status quo. I always look for things to develop and grow.”

Heimos teaches fire prevention courses at Rancho Santiago College in Santa Ana and is a state-certified instructor in fire management and fire prevention. He is also a member of several professional firefighting organizations, including the Orange County Fire Chiefs Assn.

Mayor John Collins said the new fire chief has exceptional qualifications and “a terrific background in all areas of fire service. That’s what made him attractive to us.”