Mike Garcia, who served in the Long Beach Fire Department for 28 years, will become this city’s new fire chief when he takes over the role April 30 from Acting Fire Chief Tom Christopher.
“I’m honored to be accepted into the position and humbled at the opportunity ahead,” Garcia said Friday, March 9. “I’ve spent time in the community, at its beaches, restaurants and art festivals. It’s ambiance has made it a special place to me.”
Garcia, 53, of La Mirada, was selected from among 37 applicants. He will become the city’s 19th fire chief and will have an annual salary of $192,000.
The job of fire chief is among the most critical in a city that is surrounded by wildlands and hilly topography with only two roadways in and out. In 1993, a firestorm engulfed Laguna Beach, setting the surrounding hills ablaze and consuming more than 400 homes.