CCFD boss admits he’s surprised by career path

The feelings experienced by Chris Sellers when he received the phone call were understandable.

Excited. Proud. Honored.

Tapped by the Culver City City Council and city staff to become the city’s new fire chief, it’s understandable Sellers, a 26-year veteran of the Culver City Fire Department, would start searching for adjectives to describe his emotions after receiving word he was the chosen one back on May 27.

Fast forward to Wednesday, June 9 — just two days after taking the official oath that made him the permanent replacement for the retired Jeff Eastman — and Sellers admitted there was one more label that belonged on the list.

“I almost do feel as surprised as anything,” Sellers said. “I wanted to be a firefighter ever since I was a little kid, but I never looked far beyond that possibility.”

True to his childhood dream, Sellers, 48, began battling blazes 30 years ago during his senior year of high school. That’s when he was one of two students at Royal High in Simi Valley selected for a special cadet program, kick-starting a firefighting career that included stops in Ventura County and the City of Los Angeles before he joined Culver City’s roster in January 1984.

The ensuing two-plus decades have seen Sellers wear every proverbial hat with CCFD. However, it was a little more than four years ago when the element of surprise first kicked in, as he was asked by Eastman to take over as assistant fire chief, moving him out of the firehouse and into an administrative role at City Hall.

“I found it was challenging, but I enjoyed it,” Sellers said. “It was different.”

It was also apparently an ideal fit. When Eastman announced his retirement late last year, he made no secret of the fact he believed there were plenty of capable candidates to fill his shoes already working in Culver City, headlined by the man who occupied the next office over.

Sellers stepped in as acting chief in December 2009 as the search for Eastman’s replacement commenced, guiding the department through not only its everyday operations, but the 2010-2011 fiscal year budget planning process. Meanwhile, he worked his way through the interview process for the permanent top job.

On May 27 he took part in two panel interviews — one by the five-man city council, another featuring a pair of local fire chiefs and a local city manager.

“They had some really good questions, and it provided the opportunity for them to get a really good sense of who I am,” Sellers said.

Their sense? Hire him as soon as possible. The city’s human resources department called Sellers that evening to inform him an official job offer was being drawn up, and he formally took over June 7 upon being sworn into office by Culver City Mayor Christopher Armenta at that evening’s city council meeting.

“Thank you for being part of what was a competitive process,” said Armenta prior to administering the oath to Sellers as his wife, Susy, and children Evan, 17, and Sarah, 14, looked on. “We are very fortunate to have you as the chief of Culver City.”

Asked Wednesday to elaborate on what made Sellers the right selection from among a field of three finalists, Armenta didn’t hesitate.

“Leadership,” he said. “I was looking to the interviewees for their leadership capabilities, and Chris definitely demonstrated the leadership qualities during the interview process.

“We knew he had the qualifications and experience. But especially the fire chief, this is really someone who is highly visible. … You’re really trying to gauge or envision if this person fits into that role. When we conducted the interview I was very satisfied.”

In that role, Sellers has already developed goals of both the short-term and long-term variety. With the budgeting process drawing to a close, he will turn his attention toward a final departmental review by the Insurance Services Office in July, a necessary step in the department’s quest to hold on to its prestigious Class 1 rating.

Also in the pipeline are promotional exams for members of the department, getting the new Fire Station No. 3 in Fox Hills ready for occupancy and the development of regional opportunities with other area departments regarding communications and resources.

“I see a lot of challenges in the future, but I also see a lot of opportunities,” Sellers said.

“I just want to do my best, stay focused on what’s most important for this community … and make sure this fire department, we do our best and perform the highest level of services we possibly can.”