From the still-smoldering fire scene where dozens stood homeless, Gary was on cell-phone conference calls with other Bay Area fire chiefs about potential attacks locally, and about whether they could spare anyone to help fight wildland fires in the western Sierra. It was a surreal morning, and Gary didn't see TV footage of the World Trade Center's collapse until mid-afternoon -- on a 6-foot screen at the fire department's Emergency Operations Center.
"I was so focused on our local tragedy that when I walked in the door and faced a monster screen showing a 110-story building collapse, it was a very visual, emotional blow," Gary said.
"As a fire official, nothing prior to 9/11 had trained me for that. It was as bizarre to me as seeing aliens land on the White House front lawn."
Gary will retire from his post in June, prompting the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton to hire a recruiter to begin a national search for a new fire chief.
Gary was instrumental in merging the Livermore and Pleasanton fire departments in 1996, two years after being hired as Livermore's chief.
"I think he's been an outstanding leader and a very creative leader in the department here for many years," said Livermore City Manager Linda Barton, adding that the merger has resulted in more efficient, superior fire service. "He certainly gets a lot of credit not only for the concept of the merger but making it operate so effectively."
Today, the joint department has 10 stations and 127 employees and operates on a $22.8 million budget.
Gary had previously worked as administrative chief officer for the Carlsbad fire department in Southern California. Prior to that, he was with the Poway fire department for 12 years, starting out as a volunteer, getting hired at age 18 and leaving as battalion chief fire marshal.
Gary, who will retire from a total 32 years in fire service a month after his 50th birthday, will be paid 90 percent of his current $164,940 annual pay for life through the California Public Employees' Retirement System, into which each city contributes.
Gary said he intends to continue to live in Livermore and may do some teaching and consulting while spending more time with his family.
He said he will assist the cities and executive recruiter in finding a replacement fire chief and vowed to work with fire department staff on a smooth, orderly transition.
In these post Sept. 11 times, Gary said the department continues to work on terrorism training and preparedness, even though federal funding for that purpose has been slow in coming, especially for smaller suburban cities.
"They made a lot of noise about appropriating dollars for homeland defense, but certainly my two cities have not received significant new funding," Gary said. "There has not been a ground swell of fiscal support to walk that talk."
