Latvian Minister of the Interior Māris Kučinskis has decided to pick Col. Mārtiņš Baltmanis as his main candidate for the post of Chief of State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD).
The law in Latvia states the head of VUGD is elected for a five-year term by the minister once the candidate has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Baltmanis currently serves as deputy chief of VUGD. He commenced his career in 2003 as a fire fighter. He later became VUGD platoon commander in Daugavpils, senior inspector of VUGD Civil Protection Office, chief of VUGD Civil Protection Office’s Civil Protection System Operations Coordination Department and later on the chief of VUGD Civil Protection Office.
VUGD told LETA that on the 31s of March, after more than 31 years of service, the current Chief of VUGD Gen. Oskars Āboliņš will resign from his post.
Āboliņš said in a statement to the media that his decision was not sudden – it was a coming a long time.
He has served as chief of VUGD for 12 years, which is a lot of time.
«I did what I could to work hard, develop the service and serve the public. Now I want to devote more time to family and look for new challenges,» said Āboliņš.
He did not reveal any future plans to LETA. He did say that rest is on the list.
He will remain the chief of VUGD for one and a half months. During this period of time it is necessary to finish initiated task and inform the next head of the service of his duties.
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