Were going to be deliberate, said city manager Charles Austin, the former police chief. This is not an issue of how quickly we can get it done.
A committee composed of Austin and other city officials is reviewing job applications, he said. Austin would not comment on when the search might conclude or when finalists might be named.
We will be as intense (in our search) for a fire chief as we are for our search for the police chief, Austin said.
The city was without a permanent police chief from May 2001, when Austin moved into city administration, until last month, when Dean Crisp stepped into the role.
Fire Chief John Jansen retired in March after holding the position since 1991.
The departments four assistant chiefs have shared leadership since Jansens retirement. The department is responsible for fire protection in Columbia and the rest of Richland County.
The city advertised the fire chief position in professional magazines and posted the job on the citys Web site, Austin said.
The national search has attracted candidates of varying backgrounds and experience from across the country, he said.
The minimum requirements are a four-year degree with five years of fire department management experience, or a two-year degree with 10 years of experience as an assistant or deputy fire chief.
Applicants with strong experience, but without advanced degrees, will not be excluded, Austin said.
The jobs annual salary is negotiable and likely will be $81,000 to $95,000, he said. Jansen made $98,000 a year, Austin said.
The fire chief will oversee a department with a $23.8 million budget and a staff of 496 383 paid employees and 113 volunteers, Assistant Chief Bradley Anderson said.
The role of Columbias fire chief takes on extra importance because the city is home to state government and much of South Carolinas federal government buildings, said Jim Bowie, executive director of the South Carolina State Firemens Association.
Typically the fire chief in the metropolitan area becomes the de facto leader in the region, he said.
Interaction with officials from local counties and Fort Jackson also will be a critical part of the job, Bowie said.
Its vital that they have a first-class, competent, energetic, seasoned fire chief that can interact with the local players, he said.
Columbia Mayor Bob Coble said he would like to see the new fire chief be someone with strong leadership skills who is adept at handling diversity issues, particularly promotions within the department. Hiring someone familiar with the department and city would also be a plus, he said.
It would be great to have someone from around here, he said.
