Araiza, a lifelong resident of Santa Paula, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Juris Doctor degree from Western State University. He has also earned the Chief Officer Certification from the California State Fire Marshal. Araiza will receive a salary of $86,000 per year and will begin work on September 25, 2006.
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Rick Arazia named Santa Paula Fire Chief
August 16, 2006
Late Breaking News
Richard C. Araiza has been appointed Fire Chief of the Santa Paula Fire Department, Santa Paula City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz announced today. Araiza will be the fifteenth Fire Chief in the 103-year history of the Santa Paula Fire Department. Araiza comes back to the Fire Department after a year's absence serving as Associate Chief Deputy Commissioner for the California Board of Prison Terms. Araiza served as Assistant Fire Chief from 1996 to 2005 and joined the Santa Paula Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter in 1986.
"I am happy to welcome Chief Araiza back to the Santa Paula Fire Department," Bobkiewicz stated in his announcement. "Araiza has the right combination of excellent fire management credentials as well as an understanding of the Santa Paula and its Fire Department. Under Rick's leadership, the Santa Paula Fire Department will continue to improve its outstanding service to the residents of our community."Araiza was appointed Fire Chief from a pool of applicants from throughout California. Six finalists were interviewed by three panels of Santa Paula firefighters, members of the Santa Paula community and area Fire Chiefs last Friday. These panels recommended three top candidates for final interviews with Bobkiewicz.
