Oregon firefighter named new chief

An Oregon firefighter with nearly 30 years of experience was named Petaluma's new fire chief Thursday.

Larry Anderson, deputy chief in Medford, will take over July 14 for Fire Chief Chris Albertson, who is retiring.

Anderson will be paid a salary, not including benefits, of $153,000, City Manager John C. Brown said. Anderson will oversee a department of 46 employees.

"I'm very happy to have this fellow coming aboard," said Brown, a former city manager in Woodburn, Ore., who started in Petaluma on April 1.

Brown said he did not previously know Anderson.

Anderson, 51, began his career in 1979 in Del Mar and moved to positions in Encinitas and Merced before leaving California for Oregon, Brown said.

He has been in Medford since 1992 and was deputy chief the past six years, Brown said.

-- Paul Payne