Orange set to name Bilbo Fire Chief

The City of Orange has scheduled a special meeting of City Council for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, at which it is expected to name longtime Fire Department employee John Bilbo the next Orange Fire Chief.

City Manager Mike Kunst has the responsibility of bringing forth a candidate to the city council after several candidates for the job were interviewed last week.

He called the special meeting, which will take place at the City Council Chambers at the Orange Public Library, 220 N. Fifth St.

Council members will meet in closed session to discuss filling the job, then reconvene in open session and may vote or not vote to hire Bilbo.

The longtime Fire Marshal for the city, Bilbo has more than 20 years of experience with the Orange Fire Department.

He has been serving as interim Fire Chief since the end of April, after the retirement of 53-year department veteran and 25-year Fire Chief David Frenzel.

Assistant Fire Chief Lee Anne Brown retired at the end of February after 30 years with the department.