Town board unanimously approves new fire chief

Steve Lewis was named fire chief by a unanimous vote of the Pahrump Town Board Aug. 13.

Lewis worked his way up in the ranks of the Voorhees Fire District in New Jersey starting in 1988. He has been deputy chief since 1995. Before that he was battalion chief from 1993-95, captain from 1992-93 and achieved the rank of lieutenant in 1991. Lewis has a bachelor of science degree from York College in Pennsylvania and took additional college management courses. His resume also mentions he's a certified fire and explosion investigator and instructor.

Lewis will be offered a $52,000 annual salary. He will be the third Pahrump fire chief in the past year. Barry Jennings was hired exactly one year earlier after Vern Long resigned, Jennings was replaced by Roger Erickson Feb. 16, until he resigned in early May.

"I can tell you he's an outstanding candidate and I sincerely hope we can bring him on board," Town Manager Geoff Smith said. Lewis was the choice of a selection committee and emerged as the top candidate after phone interviews, Smith said.

Lewis was chosen over two other candidates that were called in for interviews Aug. 8-9: John MacMillan, a fire official in Junction City, Ore., and Dennis Hixon, a 32-year veteran of the Denver Fire Department.

From the audience, Bill Green asked if Lewis was a representative of the firefighters union. Smith said the International Association of Firefighters doesn't have a chapter in the Voorhees Fire District.

"I don't know about Mr. Lewis, but I know we go through a lot of fire chiefs," Harley Kulkin said.

In other fire department business, Smith said the town will begin offering a Firefighting I course in Pahrump. Fire and Rescue Service officers Steve Duga and C.L. Meeks are preparing job descriptions for the department and a comprehensive exam for firefighters interested in the vacant lieutenant position, he added.

The town board held the second reading of an ordinance declaring the Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Service the sole provider of ambulance service.


<<--[back]