Politics & Government

Fire Chief Greg Moore to Retire

After 37 years with Mill Valley Fire and one year as fire chief, Tam High grad says others in the department are ready to move into leadership positions.

After a 37-year career with the , Greg Moore is going out on top – literally.

Moore, a grad who joined the department as a volunteer firefighter in 1974 and became a full-time firefighter a year later, announced his retirement this week to the members of his department. His last day is Oct. 27. City Manager Jim McCann said he'll announce a replacement in the coming weeks but declined to say whether he's looking to hire a new chief from within the department or looking elsewhere.

Moore, 62, became interim Fire Chief in November 2009 after the retirement of Bob Ritter, who had overseen both the police and fire departments for 12 years. City Manager Jim McCann in October 2010.

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“It’s really just a matter of my age and the fact that the people behind me are all ready to move into the positions,” Moore said, noting that McCann had to do a little coaxing to keep him in the position this long.

“I told my guys that I wish I was five years younger,” he added. “I absolutely love this job and this city and I don’t want to leave.”

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A catalyst for the Novato resident's decision was his wife Kath’s retirement in April after 21 years at the Marin Humane Society.

“It’s tough when you’re leaving each morning and she’s still there,” he said.

Moore emphasized that he spent the past two years getting the department organized to transition to the next phase as an independent entity after nearly 30 years of one chief overseeing both the police and fire departments, dating back to Bill Walsh in the 1980s.

“As good a job as Bob did, it was really difficult to juggle both positions – when I took over, I didn’t even have an office or a car,” he said. “But it’s been a good two years. We’ve accomplished a lot and it’s not just because of me – a big part of it is just having a dedicated fire chief to deal with all these issues.”

McCann agreed and said Moore was obviously the right man for the job.

“The city’s decision to re-establish a independent fire department was a significant one, and having Greg as the first person to make that transition was really important,” McCann said. “He did it without much drama. He’d spent his career here and he wanted to make sure that transition was successful. He’s a super solid guy and knows Mill Valley inside and out.”

A number of city officials and local residents praised Moore for advancing several emergency preparedness initiatives, including , expansion of the , the , which Moore began in 1995, as well as its advocacy and on the need for around homes as a way to prevent wildland fires from spreading quickly. In June, the Marin County civil grand jury cited Mill Valley's efforts in emergency preparedness as a "blueprint which could be emulated countywide."

Katherine Randolph, a former member of the city’s , hailed Moore’s consistent involvement with the commission and its efforts to better prepare residents for the aftermath of incidents like fires or earthquakes.

“His presence really shined a light on the commission and it made it easier for us to do our job,” she said. “He’s a great listener – you always feel heard when you’re talking to Greg.”

Moore, who retires at a salary of $146.544, is also credited with after the program languished for many years. John Thompson, president of the Mill Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association, said he’s noticed a clear improvement in morale since Moore took the helm.

“Everyone seems much more positive and engaged,” Thompson said.

Moore, who has two grown sons who also live in Novato, said he has no shortage of things he wants to do in retirement, though he shies away from dubbing it his “bucket list.” Those activities include spending time at his cabin in Bear Valley, visiting as many national parks as possible – including a hike up Half Dome in Yosemite and abalone diving with friends like former fire captain Jim McClure and Rick Misuraca, the city’s parks superintendent.

“I’ve got a lot that I’m looking forward to doing and I’m leaving this place in good hands,” he said.

When Thompson heard the news, he made Moore promise to stay on as a social member of the volunteer firefighters association and retain his role as the at the .

“He’s definitely still going to be cooking eggs,” he said.


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