2002 March Newsletter - Laserfiche WebLink

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From Our New Fire Chief I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the residents of Hugo. I have resided in Hugo all my life where I grew up on Fondant Avenue at 140th Street. My wife Gina and I have been married for 20 years. We have two sons, Jim Jr., 18, Mike, 17, and a daughter Nicole, 13. After I graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1976, I went on to work at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis as a cardiac monitor technician. In 1980, I attended 916 Vo-Tech, and received the training to become a paramedic. Upon completion of the paramedic program, I worked in Minneapolis full-time as a medic for one year, and then went on to a career as a full-time fire fighter at the Twin Cities Army Ammunition plant. Thirteen years later,when the Army closed the plant, I went back to college and became a registered nurse. My first job as an RN was to set up a transitional care unit in Maplewood as a nurse manager. Three years later I signed on at Region's Hospital in St. Paul as a critical care nurse on the coronary care unit, where I have been for the past three years. In 1977, I joined the Hugo Fire Department as a Firefighter/EMT. I have held sever- al positions since that time. In 1978 I became Rescue Lieutenant, and in 1980 I moved up to the Rescue Captain position. In 1985 1 was appointed 2nd Assistant Chief, and in 1990 1 was appointed 1 st Assistant Chief, a position I held until December, 2001 when the City Council named me Hugo's new Fire Chief. My major goals as Fire Chief are: first, to make sure all fire fighters arrive, perform their duties, and return home safely from all calls; second, to have minimal damage to prop- erty,with no injuries or loss of life; and third, to see the Fire Department grow in mem- bership. We currently have 24 members of a possible 33. Anyone living within two miles of the Hugo Fire Station who would like more information about becoming a member of the Fire Department can contact me at 651-429-6366. In closing, I would like to thank the Hugo City Council and staff for the opportunity to serve as Hugo's Fire Chief. I also wish to express my appreciation to the members of the Hugo Fire Department and the residents of Hugo for their support. Sincerely, , Jim Compton Fire Chief t r 8