New fire chief to be named

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will announce today that he wants Interim Fire Chief Douglas Barry to take over the post permanently and continue efforts to reform the beleaguered Los Angeles Fire Department. Kerry Cavanaugh in the Daily News.

After interviewing candidates inside and outside the LAFD, Villaraigosa decided he wanted Barry and persuaded the 32-year department veteran to stay on the job, sources said.

Barry's performance since being promoted to interim chief in December was praised by individual firefighters and their union.

"If the last eight months are any indication of Chief Barry as fire chief, I'm extremely optimistic," said Steve Tufts, president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City.