Petaluma Fire Chief Chris Albertson rode in style on his last day of work Friday.
Met outside his house by a group of his firefighters, the outgoing chief was driven to the downtown fire headquarters aboard an antique engine and presented with a waiting recliner out on D Street ? a supposed symbol of his new status as a retiree.
It was a light-hearted sendoff for the man who always took a serious approach to his job of overseeing fire safety and emergency preparedness in Petaluma.
Albertson spent almost seven years at the helm of the city?s fire department, initially announcing his retirement last September.
He planned to stay through the end of 2007, but postponed his retirement at the request of then-city manager Mike Bierman.
Bierman himself retired in February and the current city manager, John Brown, hired new Fire Chief Larry Anderson in May.
Brown said although he?s only worked with Albertson for three months, ?it?s been exceptional. He?s a great fire chief and he leaves behind a very well-organized department, with very committed people who know exactly what it is they?re doing.?
Brown added, ?Chris has provided tremendous leadership to that department and I know he?s going to be missed.?
At last report, Albertson was enjoying the start of his retirement aboard a cruise ship in the Mediterranean and could not be reached for comment.
His retirement caps a career spanning 38 years, beginning in 1970 in Del Mar in Southern California ? coincidentally, the same department where his successor got his start.
Anderson?s first day on the job was Monday and he?s enjoying his new role, he said.
He was previously a deputy fire chief in Medford, Ore., and Petaluma is where he?ll get his first shot at the top of a department.
?It?s a big step, coming into a community where you haven?t been before, but so far, so good,? Anderson said. ?It?s a great community, great department, and the city staff is exceptional.?
Anderson began his career in 1979, working in Del Mar, Encinitas and Merced before taking the Medford job in 1992. He and his wife, Holly, both avid motorcyclists and guitarists in their spare time, moved to Petaluma three weeks ago.
?Everyone?s been very welcoming here and is really going above and beyond,? Anderson said.
He?s spending the first few days on the job wrapping up employment paperwork and meeting the battalion chiefs and captains who?ll help him run the 54-member department.
?I?m just starting to meet the command staff, finding out how things run, getting to know the personalities and the historical perspective,? Anderson said.
In addition to overseeing the daily operations of the department ? which operates three stations, a fire prevention office and two ambulance crews ?Anderson will be taking over planning efforts for the new downtown fire station, slated to start construction next year.
The new station, to be built on Petaluma Boulevard South where the Casa Grande Motel once stood, will allow the department to keep its ladder truck on the west side to reach tall downtown buildings.
It will also feature quarters for women firefighters ? the department recently hired a woman firefighter for the first time in 30 years ? and will replace the 1937 D Street station, which has not been retrofitted for earthquake safety.
The new station is expected to cost $13 million and will include a public art element in its design.
?It?s the kind of thing that?s exciting and will serve the community for many years to come,? the new chief said. ?It?s going to be one of those hallmark projects that the department, the city and the community can rally around.?
(Contact Corey Young at corey.young@arguscourier.com)
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