Mayor Dixon: Fire Chief James Clack ‘will think outside the box’

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(AP photo)
James Clack is Baltimore City's new fire chief.

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Seeking to change the “culture” of the Baltimore City Fire Department, Mayor Sheila Dixon touted her appointment of James Clack as the city’s new fire chief as a change of direction for the beleaguered agency.

“Our department has gone through tough struggles this past year,” Dixon said at a news conference Wednesday.

“I believe Chief Clack is the best person for a very important job,” she said. “He is a proven leader with significant command experience.”

Clack, former chief of the Minneapolis Fire Department, was widely credited for his deft handling of the emergency response to the collapse of the Interstate 35 bridge in Minneapolis that resulted in the deaths of 13 motorists. Dixon emphasized his diverse experience and the fresh perspective he would bring to the department.

“He will think outside the box,” she said.

Dixon also said officials from the black firefighters union in Minneapolis assured her Clack would be able to manage a department that has been criticized for lack of diversity.

Clack is a 22-year veteran of the Minneapolis Fire Department, having served as the chief of training and EMT division before assuming the top job two years ago.

Expressing his love for firefighters and the role they play in saving lives, Clack also said he was excited to be in Baltimore.

“This city is one of the few places I would leave Minneapolis for,” he said.

“Living and working in Baltimore is a dream come true for me.”

Grilled about how he would change policies in the department that was wracked by controversy after the death of fire cadet Rachael Wilson in a “live burn” training exercise last February, Clack said his first priority would be addressing safety.

“We will sharpen our focus on safety,” he said.

Union officials, who had pressed the mayor to select a chief from outside the department, gave the appointment a preliminary approval.

“We think it’s a good move,” said fire officers union chief Stephan Fugate.

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com

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