“Back in the fire truck again,” joked Araiza, who earned a BA in Political Science from UCSB and a Juris Doctorate degree from Western State University. “The goal I had a long time now has come to pass, and I can’t believe all the calls I’ve been getting this morning,” he said Wednesday as he was driving to work in Los Angeles.Araiza will start as the SPFD Chief on September 25, and the career change is “going to be a big move for me again.... I was lucky enough to have two great jobs, but the biggest thing for me was that I still had my heart in Santa Paula. I’m not burning any bridges leaving this job” that required overseeing parole board issues and hearings in a region that stretched from Bakersfield to Orange counties, including Los Angeles County.“Hopefully, I can come back and do things for the city,” and then after retirement consider rejoining the state parole commission. “It’s opened up a lot of things for me,” although Araiza admitted that the long commutes potentially could have presented a challenge.“Being on the road a lot gave me a lot of time to think, do the pluses and minuses” of returning to work for the city. “My family - who are very supportive and happy - has been in town forever and I enjoy Santa Paula. I look forward to good things, growth in the future” and taking on the challenge of accommodating same.“I’ll be hitting the ground running” with the support of Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Fildes, SPFD personnel, city staff and Ventura County Fire Chief Bob Roper, all of whom have been calling Araiza to offer congratulations. “It will be fun... as much as I enjoyed working for the state, Santa Paula is definitely more of a family atmosphere, totally different. I’m happy to be back, hopefully will do a great job and improve the service to the citizens of Santa Paula.” Araiza will receive a salary of $86,000 annually.
Rick Araiza selected as new S.P. Fire Chief
August 18, 2006
Santa Paula News
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By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesFormer Assistant Fire Chief Rick Araiza is coming home to a bigger job - nay, his dream job - as the chief of the Santa Paula Fire Department. “There’s something about Santa Paula,” noted City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz, who announced Araiza’s appointment Wednesday.Araiza, a city native, will be the city’s 15th fire chief in the department’s 103-year history and the second full-time chief, succeeding Paul Skeels who retired in recent months. Araiza started with the SPFD as a paid-call volunteer in 1986, and was assistant chief from 1996 to 2005, when he left the city to become the associate chief deputy commissioner for the California Parole Board.“I am happy to welcome Chief Araiza back to the SPFD.... He has the right combination of excellent fire management credentials, as well as an understanding of Santa Paula and its fire department,” said Bobkiewicz. “Under Rick’s leadership, the SPFD will continue to improve its outstanding service to the residents of our community.”Six finalists were culled from candidates from a pool of applicants from throughout California: “It was a strong pool of candidates, and reassuring that people see Santa Paula as a good place to be.” Three panels of fire chiefs, SPFD personnel and community members interviewed the semi-finalists. “The City Council feels strongly about including the community” and garnering their input in such decision-making, noted Bobkiewicz, who interviewed the panels’ recommended three final candidates.“I’m very pleased that someone with Rick’s long experience and training, someone who has gone out of his way to learn and understand the fire sciences,” including Araiza’s successful completion of a prestigious state program, was chosen.“Not only does Rick know Santa Paula and the department, he is really well-trained and qualified from experience and education.... Rick took it upon himself to get the state Fire Marshal’s Fire Chiefs Certification,” involving a series of courses and rigorous testing. “That really stood out in my mind” during the final selection process, noted Bobkiewicz.“Rick knows the community, knows the department, was an outstanding candidate and the most qualified.... You don’t always get that combination,” he added.
