By Gary Emerling
The Washington Times
Copyright 2007 The Washington Times LLC
All Rights Reserved
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty yesterday named Atlanta Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin to head the D.C. fire department, charging a veteran firefighter who once worked in the city with reforming one of its often-troubled agencies.
“We will work hard to make our fire department the best fire department and [emergency medical services] agency possible,” Chief Rubin said during a press conference at the Unified Communications Center in Southeast. “We will work hard to raise the bar in every aspect.”
He will replace interim Fire Chief Brian K. Lee, whom Mr. Fenty chose to take over the duties of embattled Chief Adrian H. Thompson in December.
Chief Rubin, 54, a D.C. native, worked in the District’s fire department in the 1970s and has worked in departments in Fairfax; Mesa, Ariz.; Dothan, Ala.; and Norfolk.
He was fire chief in Dothan from 1996 to 2001 and in Norfolk from 2001 to 2002. He served as Dothan’s city manager from 2002 to 2003 before accepting the Atlanta fire chief position.
“He brings a vast amount of fire and rescue experience back to the District of Columbia,” said Mr. Fenty, a Democrat.
The D.C. Council must confirm the nomination. Phil Mendelson, at-large Democrat and chairman of the council’s Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, which has oversight of the fire department, expressed support for Mr. Fenty’s choice.
“Chief Rubin has a national reputation, brings a lot of experience and is an excellent choice,” Mr. Mendelson said.
Still, Mr. Fenty’s selection will be scrutinized during the hearing process.
In Atlanta, a news report indicated that Chief Rubin was criticized for favoritism recently after administering no internal discipline to a top aide who was found asleep and smelling of alcohol in a fire department car.
Chief Rubin said yesterday that the January incident was a “closed case.”
“It’s really much ado about nothing,” he said.