Excerpts from the Chicago Tribune about the new fire chief for the Northbrook Fire Department
Jose M. Torres, 52, … from the Santa Monica (Calif.) Fire Department … a 34-year firefighting veteran. His first day with [the] Northbrook Fire Department is Feb. 16… as chief of the Northbrook Fire Department.
Torres’ appointment was announced by the village last week after a nationwide search that drew 50 candidates. Torres’ fire service career began in Illinois with the United States Air Force, where he served as a firefighter and assistant chief for training. He spent the past 18 years with the Santa Monica Fire Department as a firefighter, paramedic, fire captain, battalion chief, and most recently a training division chief.
Torres said there are many similarities between the Northbrook and Santa Monica fire departments in size, scope and history, with both being more than 100 years old. Although he was hesitant to comment on any initiatives before starting his new role, Torres said he is confident in taking over for 30-year veteran Mark Nolan, who retired as chief of the department last November.
Torres said that it’s tough coming in from the outside, but he’s confident he can apply the lessons he learned over the last 34 years to his new job in Northbrook.
Northbrook village officials declined to comment for this story, but confirmed Torres’ annual salary will be $145,000.
#1 by mike mc on January 28, 2015 - 12:39 PM
The shadow of William Blair still haunts anyone from the west coast.
#2 by Braeden on January 28, 2015 - 10:49 AM
Keep in mind, this gentleman is not the first chief for this department to come from the outside.
#3 by Dennis on January 25, 2015 - 11:37 AM
FFEMT…I couldn’t agree more, sometimes change is good.
#4 by FFEMT on January 25, 2015 - 10:11 AM
I find it hard to believe that people who clearly have no personal insight into how this recruitment was done are spending their time bashing the process on a fire buff site….despite the fact that the process clearly satisfied the people who actually matter here.
#5 by Tom on January 25, 2015 - 6:52 AM
I find it hard to believe that the search firm hired to find a replacement for Mark Nolan, could not find a suitable and qualified in house or local candidate with knowledge of the workings of the Northbrook department and local MABAS practices and procedures. Wonder how, if at all, this will affect the moral of the men and women of the Northbrook department.
#6 by Chuck on January 24, 2015 - 7:59 PM
According to online sources, he was an engineer and captain in Ventura, California from 1990 to 1997, and a captain and battalion chief in Santa Monica from 1997 to 2014. Everything else prior was military firefighting service. Good luck to the Northbrook brothers, especially since the City fathers felt there was no one from within the Department qualified to lead them.
#7 by Tom on January 24, 2015 - 9:54 AM
There were no qualified in house candidates?