Arcadia Announces Fire Chief Retirement and Names Successor

ARCADIA, CA - The City of Arcadia announced that Fire Chief Barry Spriggs plans to retire on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, after a remarkable 29 years with the Arcadia Fire Department.

"On behalf of the Arcadia City Council and the entire community, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Barry for his dedicated service," said City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto. "Over his long career with Arcadia, Barry has helped build a Class 1 Fire Department through his proactive approach to fire prevention, emergency operations, and administering quality medical care." Upon his retirement, Chief Spriggs looks forward to continuing his work in the foster care system and expanding his volunteer efforts in the community.

Arcadia also announced that Deputy Fire Chief Chen Suen will be promoted into the

Fire Chief role on November 9, 2022. "One of my proudest accomplishments as Chief has been developing and preparing the next generation of fire service leaders of our community," said Chief Barry Spriggs. "I am excited for Chen as he assumes this new role and am confident he will further the Fire Department's legacy ofexcellent service."

Immigrating from Taiwan in 1979, Chen Suen graduated from Arcadia High School and went on to earn several degrees from Loyola Law School, UC Irvine, and Santa Ana College. Chen married his wife Sandia, also an Arcadia native, and they are raising their two children, Ethan age fifteen and Emma age six, in Arcadia, a community they have long called home.

Beginningnext week, Deputy Chief Suen will assume the FireChief position and continue building upon his eighteen-year career with the Department. In response to his new appointment, Deputy Chief Suen said, "I am truly humbled and excited to lead this extraordinary organization and will continue to serve this community with the Class 1 service they have come to expect. I thank our City Manager, Dominic Lazzaretto, and our City Council for giving me this opportunity to serve my hometown.'