County Fire Chief Gets $11,000 Raise

County Fire Chief Larry J. Holms received an $11,000-a-year salary increase under a contract approved this month by the Orange County Fire Authority Board of Directors.

The increase brings Holms’ base salary to about $116,000. Previously his salary was $101,000 plus an additional $3,500 annually under a management benefit plan.

Even with the increase, Holms’ compensation remains within the range of other local fire chiefs, even though he runs the county’s largest fire agency, which serves 20 communities from Buena Park to San Clemente.

Santa Ana’s fire chief earned a base salary of $123,000 last year, and Anaheim’s chief earned about $106,000.

Holms’ new contract is his first since the fire department broke off from the county last year and became an independent joint powers authority.

The Fire Authority directors--made up of city and county officials--overwhelmingly approved the contract last week.

The pact provides Holms with use of a department vehicle so that he can respond promptly to emergency calls, said Judy Davis, the authority’s human resources director.