By Susan Motander
Monrovia’s Fire Chief Chris Donovan has resigned, effective Feb. 11. He will be taking over the role of fire chief for the city of El Segundo.
Donovan who has been Monrovia’s chief for 10 years said he appreciated his time here, but that he was looking forward to new challenges with his new position. “I’ll be trading the Wildland Urban Interface for high-rises and an oil refinery,” Donovan said.
He explained that he had committed to working at least five years for the city just south of Los Angeles International Airport. Donovan said the new position will give the opportunity to address different issues in fire-fighting. “El Segundo is a city of approximately five square miles with an oil refinery taking up one square mile,” he said. “It also has more high rises than any city other than Los Angeles in the county and is the home of more Fortune 500 companies than any city in California except for San Francisco.”
Donovan also said that he appreciated his time in Monrovia and the support he had received from the community as a whole. “I will miss this community, but feel this is the right step in my career,” Donovan said.
City Manager Oliver Chi said that he will interview all three of the Department’s Division Chiefs (formerly called Battalion Chiefs) before selecting one to act as interim chief when Donovan leaves. “I will name the interim chief sometime next week” Chi said.
