The City of San Luis Obispo, California has selected Charlie Hines to be its next fire chief.  Hines has served as Yakima fire chief since June 2007 when he was appointed to succeed Dennis Mayo who retired in April of that year.

“Leaving Yakima will be bittersweet for me,” said Hines, who spent most of his career in California before coming to Yakima.  “My wife and I feel very much at home here.  But it’s a unique opportunity to lead an outstanding agency like the San Luis Obispo Fire Department while also getting the chance to be closer to our family in California.  It wasn’t an easy decision, but we are convinced that it is a good move for us,” said Hines.       

Hines was hired by Yakima as a deputy chief in November 2005.  Prior to that he had served as a firefighter for the cities of Long Beach and La Habra, California and for the California Division of Forestry.  He also worked as a firefighter/paramedic for the Long Beach, La Habra, and Westminster, California fire departments.  His management experience includes positions with Long Beach as a training captain, house captain, and battalion chief.  

As the chief of the San Luis Obispo Fire Department, Hines will head an agency of 55 full-time employees that serves a population of about 45,000.  San Luis Obispo (Spanish for St. Louis, the Bishop) is located on the Central California coast about midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Founded in 1772, it is one of the oldest communities in the state.

Hines will succeed John Callahan who unexpectedly passed away in mid-August.  Callahan had served as San Luis Obispo’s fire chief since November 2005.

“San Luis Obispo will definitely benefit from Charlie’s experience, energy, and expertise,” said Yakima City Manager Dick Zais.  “He has done an extraordinary job leading the Yakima Fire Department, even during difficult economic times.  We certainly wish him well in his new position,” said Zais.

Hines is expected to remain on the job in Yakima until late November.  Zais plans to name an interim chief to run the Yakima Fire Department while a search for a new fire chief is underway.