Salinas Chooses New Fire Chief

A 52-year-old fire chief from San Diego County will be the new chief of the Salinas Fire Department.
The hiring of Kim Raddatz, who has been fire service director in Coronado since 2003, was announced Thursday by City Manager Artie Fields.

Raddatz, who has 31 years in the fire service in San Diego County, will start in Salinas on May 4.
“It’s going to be a great experience,” Raddatz said from his Coronado office, where he oversees about 100 firefighters and lifeguards. The Salinas department has 82 firefighters and a $16.2 million annual budget.
Raddatz succeeds Edward Montez, who retired in September. Raddatz was chosen after a national search that drew 62 applicants, Fields said.

None of the candidates came from within the Salinas department. Seaside Fire Chief Jerry Wombacher was identified as one of the finalists for the post.
The city manager said Raddatz will bring extensive experience to Salinas.
Fields said, “Thirty-one years of experience, you gain a lot of insight into what works and what doesn’t.”

Mayor Dennis Donohue said the new chief will usher “some great things to come to the department.”
Steve Furtado, president of the Salinas Firefighters Association, declined comment until the new chief has been on the job for a while.
Raddatz will be the second new Salinas public safety department head in recent weeks.

In Coronado, Raddatz was credited with incorporating a 105-foot aerial truck company into the department and improving its paramedic service during his tenure as chief.

Raddatz served as a coordinator during big wildland fires in 2003 and 2007 in San Diego County and was chosen by city managers there to develop a fire chief certification curriculum for a regional training academy.

He has received two medals of valor during his career, one for actions in a Lakeside residential fire rescue and another for directing firefighting efforts during the huge Cedar Fire, which broke out in October 2003 in central San Diego County. He was one of three commanders working on the massive blaze.

The Cedar Fire, one of the largest fires in California history, was pushed by fierce Santa Ana winds and consumed about 280,000 acres, 2,232 homes and left 15 people dead, including a firefighter.

Raddatz’s starting salary will be $204,680. He agreed to take a 10 percent cut in benefits, part of the agreement by city administrators to help plug the city’s budget gaps, Fields said.

Story by Monterey County Herald