``It was a tough decision. I enjoyed what I was doing here, but at this point in time, I'm interested in going back to California,'' he said.
Lowden spent five years as chief of the South County Fire Authority serving San Carlos and Belmont, north of Palo Alto, before moving to Reno nearly eight years ago.
He leaves a department serving nearly one-half million people for one that oversees one-fifth that number, but is strapped financially.
He has worked as a consultant with the South County Fire Authority during vacations this year to review a half dozen layoffs, three captains' demotions and the failure of a tax proposal that led to the dismissal of former Chief Herb Jewell in April.
South County officials credit Lowden with easing the situation and calming discord with union members, the Palo Alto Daily News reported last month.
``Chuc's mission is to come in and cure that,'' San Carlos City Manager Mike Garvey said Monday.
In Reno, he also has overseen the consolidation of the city and county fire departments, which Garvey hopes will happen in the South County area, too.
Garvey said Lowden will earn a base salary of $144,000, compared with his $130,000 in Reno.
Lowden, who just turned 60, said retirement benefits -- more attractive as a result of his years in California than in Nevada -- were one key issue.
Lowden's departure leaves Reno City Manager Charles McNeely scrambling to fill both the fire chief's post and that of the police chief. Jerry Hoover, who became the city's top cop in July 1997, announced his retirement in June to take a consulting position with an international company.
McNeely said Monday that he expected to fill both jobs by the end of the year.
``Reno is a very attractive area so I don't think we'll have any problems recruiting nationwide,'' he said.
