A Central Coast community is going to have what may be the first female fire chief in the region. The City of Lompoc has hired Alicia Welch as its new chief.
Welch has been a firefighter for nearly three decades.
She was with the Los Angeles Fire Department for 27 years, starting as a firefighter and rising to become a Battalion Chief. In 2018, she became Fire Chief for the City of Golden, Colorado.
Welch was chosen following a nationwide search, following the retirement of Chief Gerald Kuras. She’ll take over her new post in August.
