After more than six months without a fire chief, the East Lansing City Council named Randall Talifarro to fill the fire department’s top seat.
He will begin his new duties in March.
Talifarro’s background is in fire fighting and community service. Most recently, he was chief of the Training and Safety Division at the Flint Fire Department.
Talifarro was unavailable for comment Wednesday.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” Mayor Mark Meadows said. “He comes very highly recommended. He has great experience, and above that, he has quite a history of community service and a personal commitment to completing his education.”
The decision to offer the chief position to Talifarro was made by the city council Tuesday. The city made the announcement after conducting a national search that brought in more than 50 applications. Seven candidates were interviewed for the job, the mayor said.
“He is a graduate of, unfortunately, U of M Flint,” saidMeadows, an MSU alumnus.
Talifarro graduated with a degree in public administration from U-M Flint last year. He served as president of the Flint Community School Board in 1998 and 1999. He also has served as a trustee for the Society of Minority Fire Fighters and as a member and coach of the Police Activity League.
“I think it was the work ethic that was so extremely impressive, not to mention the personality and the leadership,” Meadows said. “This is a high quality hire for the city of East Lansing.”
Talifarro will have a salary of $79,000 and will lead a 52-member department.
The search began for a new chief in July, when former Chief Phillip Vorlander retired to his home town of Madison, Wis. Vorlander had been with the fire department for three years. Steve Hildenbrand took over Vorlander’s duties as Interim Fire Chief. Hildenbrand announced he will retire in February after 30 years with the department.
City Manager Ted Staton said city officials listened to members of the fire department when selecting the new chief.
“They said they wanted someone who was going to make a longterm commitment to East Lansing and someone who was open to the ideas and input of employees,” Staton said. “This guy fits that to a T.”
Deputy Chief Scott Wyman said the department is excited to have a new leader in their ranks.
Although Talifarro’s job involves paperwork, Wyman said he will deal with the Emergency Medical Service, hazardous materials, fire suppression and fire prevention.
“I’m glad to finally get a chief and get some stability back in the department,” Wyman said. “Actually, I think everyone is in favor of getting a new chief.”
