Timothy D Riley

Former Anaheim Fire Marshal Timothy D. Riley was named last week to be chief of the Newport Beach Fire Department. Riley was chosen for the city's top fire post from a pool of 60 applicants who sought the job, which has been temporarily filled by acting Chief James Reed since last spring. Riley, 37, was raised in Anaheim and joined the Fire Department there in 1975. He has held a number of positions in the Anaheim Fire Department, including captain, battalion chief and operations division chief.

Increasing safety standards in portable classrooms will be a top priority of Timothy D. Riley, Newport Beach's chief of fire and marine services, as he becomes president of the California Fire Chiefs Assn. Portable classrooms have been Timothy D. Riley in demand as schools reduce class sizes under a statewide initiative. But many of the portables have been crowded together and some lack water connections, he said.

Increasing safety standards in portable classrooms will be a top priority of Timothy D. Riley, Newport Beach's chief of fire and marine services, as he becomes president of the California Fire Chiefs Assn. Portable classrooms have been Timothy D. Riley in demand as schools reduce class sizes under a statewide initiative. But many of the portables have been crowded together and some lack water connections, he said.

Former Anaheim Fire Marshal Timothy D. Riley was named last week to be chief of the Newport Beach Fire Department. Riley was chosen for the city's top fire post from a pool of 60 applicants who sought the job, which has been temporarily filled by acting Chief James Reed since last spring. Riley, 37, was raised in Anaheim and joined the Fire Department there in 1975. He has held a number of positions in the Anaheim Fire Department, including captain, battalion chief and operations division chief.

City Manager Kevin J. Murphy, Police Chief Robert J. McDonell and Fire Chief Timothy D. Riley will discuss how crime, competition and cutbacks affect the quality of public safety services in the city during a public forum Wednesday. Murphy will give an overview of public safety and put it into context with the city's budget. Public safety expenditures account for 53% of Newport Beach's general fund, he said.

A new city-run emergency transportation system is finally operating after a yearlong debate over how the service should be provided. On July 1, the city began providing paramedic as well as ambulance service, a combination designed to improve response time. Paramedic response is expected to be five minutes or less, down from eight minutes before the change, officials said.

An informational meeting on the city's emergency transportation system and emergency-paramedic response is scheduled for 6 tonight at the Central Library. City Manager Kevin J. Murphy and Fire and Marine Chief Timothy D. Riley will host the workshop to inform residents about the Fire and Marine Department's proposal to improve paramedic service in Newport Beach.

Because hospitals no longer furnish medical supplies for emergency vehicles, Newport Beach has increased its paramedic budget by $119,000 for the current fiscal year. An Aug. 15 change in how Medicare regulations are enforced has prompted hospitals across Orange County to stop stocking paramedic vans with supplies such as splints and bandages. Insurance reimbursement for those supplies now must be made through providers of emergency transport, rather than through hospitals.

After a heated and emotional debate, the City Council has voted to convert the city's ambulance service into a public-operated entity. City officials say the switch is expected to reduce average paramedic response time from eight minutes now to five minutes or less. "This comes down to a debate of saving money versus saving lives," Councilman Thomas Edwards said. "I opt for saving lives." Mayor John W.

Newport Beach's estimated $90-million 1992-93 city budget was a key topic again for the City Council last week, as members poured over the hefty document department by department and suggested short- and long-term changes to save money. Though Newport Beach will raise and spend about $10 million less in 1992-93 than it did the previous year, unlike many cities, it is not facing harrowing cutbacks and employee layoffs.

A panel studying a proposal to enhance paramedic response time by creating a city-run ambulance service has sent the proposal back to staff for further review after hearing public testimony opposing it. The Public Safety Committee, which includes Mayor John W. Hedges and Councilwoman Norma Glover, will reconsider the issue March 25. Representatives from Santa Ana-based MedTrans Ambulance Inc.

City Council members will decide tonight whether to order a start on construction of the proposed Balboa Island Fire Station. Planning Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the project Thursday, despite opposition from residents who asked for an independent assessment of its effect on surrounding residents. An existing fire station at 323 Marine Ave.