Higinbotham takes over as Ontario interim fire chief
Former state fire marshal deputy said position is only temporary

By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Saturday, November 15, 2008 10:36 PM PST

Interim Ontario Fire & Rescue Chief Allan Higinbotham stands next to the department’s rigs this week. Higinbotham, 67, will serve as interim chief while the city searches for a permanent replacement.

Ontario — As the city of Ontario continues to reel from the sudden resignation of longtime Ontario Fire & Rescue Chief Terry Mairs, interim Chief Allan Higinbotham said he will serve with the department until the city can find a permanent replacement.

Higinbotham, 67, whose son, Todd Higinbotham, is also serving in the department, said he was officially appointed Oct. 30.

“It’s temporary,” Higinbotham said in a phone interview this week. “Just until they go through the process of finding a new chief.” 

Higinbotham said he first got involved in fire service in the 1950s, when he volunteered as a firefighter in Central Point, Ore., which currently has a population of 16,550. He said he worked his way to becoming a paid staff member before becoming chief.

“I still love it,” he said of being involved in fire service. “It’s great — getting back into it. I’ve been retired, but it’s fun.”

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Higinbotham said he retired from firefighting around 1977 and later became an Oregon state fire marshal deputy, a job he held for 25 years.

“I applied,” he said. “It’s an application, and you have to take an exam.”

Higinbotham said he was in charge of Malheur, Harvey, Grant and Baker counties.

“There used to be 13 of us,” he said of the deputies scattered throughout Oregon. “I’m not sure how many there are now.”

Higinbotham said he was assigned to perform fire investigations, enforce fire and life safety codes and do inspections for the department of corrections. Higinbotham also has a long history in Ontario.

“I came over in 1977,” he said. “I’ve lived here ever since.”

Besides his son, Higinbotham said he has other children who make their livings within the walls of Ontario’s City Hall.

“One daughter (Tori Barnett) is city recorder,” he said. “And I have another daughter (Beckie Justus) in finance.”

Higinbotham spoke highly of Ontario’s Fire and Rescue staff, which he called “the best department in the state.”

“The city has a super crew,” he said. “Both paid and volunteer. It makes my job really easy.”

Lawrence formally introduced Higinbotham to Ontario City Council members at their work session Thursday afternoon. Lawrence said Higinbotham may be in the position for three or four months while the city decides how they will search for “the right person.”

“We have to decide whether we are going to use a search firm or do it in house,” he said.

Lawrence also joked he believed Higinbotham was “one of those people who works more now that he is retired.” At the work session, Higinbotham again expressed appreciation for Ontario Fire & Rescue crew and said he probably would not have accepted the interim fire chief position if he did not know so many of the crew members.

“They have accepted the new leadership with open arms,” he said.