(October 6. 2006) -- Newport Beach City Hall has selected Steve Lewis, the LB Fire Dept's Deputy Chief of Operations, as NB's next Fire Chief.

The selection by Newport Beach's City Manager means Lewis will replace Tim Riley, who's retiring after 15 years as NB Fire Chief.

In a written release, Newport Beach City Hall says LBFD Deputy Chief Lewis has "25 years of impressive fire department experience," noting that he graduated from CSULB, began as a Burbank Firefighter (1981) and "has worked for the City of Long Beach in the positions of Firefighter, Paramedic, Captain, Captain/Lifeguard, Battalion Chief, and most recently as Deputy Chief of Operations, where he oversees daily operations involving 412 Fire personnel and all the city’s fire stations."

The Newport Beach release adds that Deputy Chief Lewis has "represented the City of Long Beach on various committees including: Chairperson of the Civil Service Advisory Committee, Urban Search and Rescue Coordinator, Equipment Committee, Operations Committee, committee member for the updating of the City’s General Plan, department liaison for the Long Beach Grand Prix, and department liaison with the Port of Long Beach. He has worked in the Fire Department’s Operations Bureau, Training Division, and Fire Prevention Bureau."

Reaction is pending as we post. Further as newsworthy.