San Jose fire chief steps down - via e-mail
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Manuel Alarcon, the head of San Jose's
fire department, announced Tuesday in an internal e-mail that he
would be stepping down.
Alarcon, 53, was the subject of criticism for his department's
handling last summer of the largest structure fire in the city's
history.
The huge blaze at the Santana Row shopping center and
residential development in August destroyed a large portion of the
project that was nearing the end of construction. The fire also
burned 36 apartments a half-mile away.
Alarcon did not say what he planned to do after he leaves the
department on Jan. 26.
Alarcon has been with the San Jose Fire Department since 1976
and rose to the top rank of chief in 2000.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)