City weighs options to find new fire chief

Jace Radke

Thursday, May 3, 2001 | 10:39 a.m.

The city of Las Vegas is evaluating whether to conduct an internal or national search for a new fire chief after Mario Trevino resigned Wednesday to become fire chief for the city and county of San Francisco.

Trevino, who has served as Las Vegas Fire Chief since January 1997, was a finalist last year for a job heading one of the nation's largest departments in Dallas. He will take a similar job in San Francisco.

"I feel that we've accomplished every goal we laid out for ourselves over the past four and a half years," Trevino said in a prepared statement. "Any successes that I have been fortunate enough to enjoy are directly attributable to the brave men and women of this fine department and to the support I received from Mayor (Oscar) Goodman, the City Council, the city manager and the city of Las Vegas management team."

Trevino joined the Seattle Fire Department at age 19, and worked in nearly all facets of the department for 24 years. He graduated from Seattle University with a bachelor's degree in public administration, led the task force of the Puget Sound Urban Search and Rescue FEMA team and headed the King County Fire Chief's operation's committee.

In November Trevino campaigned for a $550 million fire safety initiative that passed, allowing for the construction of four new fire stations and the hiring of 117 new firefighters, paramedics and support staff over the next two years.

Deputy Chief David Washington will serve as acting chief.