Lakeport Fire chief retires; fire board names interim chief
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — After just over a year on the job, Lakeport Fire’s chief has decided to retire.
Chief Jeffrey Thomas tendered his resignation to the Lakeport Fire Protection District Board following its meeting on May 10, said Board President John Whitehead.
Whitehead said Thomas’ retirement was effective at the close of business on Monday.
Thomas told Lake County News that he retired for “personal reasons.”
As for what’s ahead, Thomas said he has no plans at the moment, just plans to relax “for a few beats.”
Thomas, the first Black chief of the fire district in its 128-year history, arrived in March 2021 from Salt Lake City, where he had worked in the fire service for 36 years.
Since then he’s worked on preparedness and in December led the department in celebrating its newest fire engine.
Last year, he worked with the Lakeport Police Department to create a specialized team of a police officer and a firefighter to patrol for illegal fireworks during the city’s July 4 celebration.
Whitehead said the board held a special meeting on Monday morning, at which time they named retired Ukiah Valley Fire Chief Dan Grebil as Lakeport’s interim chief.
In Ukiah Valley Grebil was the predecessor of Chief Doug Huchison, who previously had served at Lakeport Fire.
“He was doing the job,” Whitehead said of Thomas. “We’re just happy that he’s going to be happy and we wish him the best.”
As for how Lakeport Fire will conduct the recruitment for Thomas’ successor, Whitehead said, they don’t know yet.
“We really haven’t made any solid decision. We discussed that a little bit today,” he said.
He added, “We will be talking at our June meeting about that for sure.”
As a retired annuitant in the CalPERS retirement system, Grebil is limited to working a total of 960 hours in a year. Whitehead said that if Grebil works full-time, that means he has just under six months of time.
Whitehead reported that one of the district’s board members, Gary Deas, also has resigned. He’s received a job promotion and is moving out of the area.
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