New Fire Chief Welcomed in Pinning Ceremony

When Jim Miguel was inaugurated as new fire chief of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, the welcome came from more than just his family members.

During the Thursday ceremony, the 27-year firefighting veteran swore his oath of service in front of his wife, son, mother-in-law and more than 100 others from what Miguel called his "extended family" of firefighters from as far as Modesto.

Miguel, formerly the fire chief at Modesto, thanked his colleagues and said they were a part of a "heritage that made me who I am."  He also recalled that an early interest in the local fire department was sparked when the two cities merged their agencies in 1996.

"Since that merger I've watched with great interest from 'over the hill,'" he said during his remarks. "The joint effort has brought so many great things to this department.  Little did I know then that I'd be standing here today as this department's new fire chief."

Miguel was chosen from a pool of about 50 applicants.  The selection committee included both Pleasanton and Livermore's' union leaders, department heads and city managers.

Miguel quipped that the intensity of the dual-city appointment peaked at an interview where he answered questions from officials seated across several tables.

"It felt like picking up your prom date and having her entire family show up to check you out," he said. "But it was a very warm, all-inclusive experience."

Miguel said his "paramount concern" has always been the safety and well-being of the department staff and their families, which he will carry into his new post.

Miguel spent almost three decades of his firefighting career at the Modesto Fire Department, where he began as a fire engineer before climbing the ladder as captain, battalion chief and operations division chief.

The fire department badge-pinning ceremony brought officials from both cities, many whom offered remarks including Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer Hosterman and Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena.

Miguel said he hoped to meet expectations of city officials to "strive for both fiscal and ethical responsibility."  While serving as fire chief in Modesto, Miguel was also the city's director of finance and acting deputy city manager.

The fire department serves more than 150,000 residents with eight engine companies, two truck companies and 10 fire stations. 

A leadership void left by two retirees — former fire chief William Cody in October and former deputy fire chief Jeff Zolfarelli in January — forced both cities to make adjustments, according to Julie Yuan-Miu, Pleasanton's assistant city manager. 

As the department searched for its new chief, Yuan-Miu and Livermore Assistant City Manager Troy Brown collaborated with battalion chiefs in interim management roles.

"Our goal was to keep the department's stellar reputation so we could attract a stellar candidate," she said. "We found that in Jim Miguel."

Batallion Chief Joe Testa said Brown and Yuan-Miu went beyond the call of duty as administrators.  The department honored both with awards at the ceremony.

"Within the first few weeks that they [Brown and Yuan-Miu] came in, we already put on a mass vaccination for H1N1," Testa said. "Julie said she wanted to know exactly what we went through every day, so she even put on a fire suit and accompanied us on a few calls."

 Hosterman said the stopgap was challenging at times but helped the department grow throughout lengthy interview and hiring processes — all while operating without a fire chief.

"We've had fits and starts," said Hosterman at the ceremony. "But this organization has pulled through to show that we do a top-notch job of protecting our citizens.  Hiring Jim Miguel is the capstone to that effort."