Chief Van Goor Takes Oath of Office

Last night, Fire Chief James Van Goor officially took the oath of office at Village Hall. In front of friends, family, fire officials and Village Council members, Van Goor succeeded James Bombace to the position.

Mayor David Pfund administered the oath with Van Goor's daughter holding the Bible and his wife looking on.

"We've had the leadership, and we'll continue to have the leadership," Pfund said. "This is a difficult time for all of us. With all of our departments, it's the leadership that will mold and project us into the future. And Jim, I think you're ideal for the situation at hand."

Last week, Van Goor said he was "nervous but excited" to move from a lieutenant fighting fires in the field to a director working in-house.

"It's an ambition I've had, but I never thought it'd come around," he said from his new office on East Glen Avenue.

A Ridgewood firefighter since 1986, Van Goor resides in Ramsey.

"I want to take my 23 years of experience, people skills and management skills to make us the best department possible," he said.

Another perk on top of a car, office, and assistant is the chance to regularly sleep in his own bed.

"There's no more sleepovers. After 23 years of sleeping here a few nights a week, it'll be nice to be home every night," he said.

Van Goor is officially labeled the provisional fire chief until Civil Service clears his application within the next six months, Village Manager Dr. Kenneth Gabbert said.

Other fire news: 

The Ridgewood Fire Department responded to 74 calls from May 2, 2010 to May 8, 2010. Description/Number of Calls:

• Extrication of victim from vehicle: 1
• Passenger vehicle fire: 1            
• Mulch fire: 1
• EMT call: 19
• Gas leak (natural gas or LPG): 1
• Power line down: 14
• Arcing, shorted electrical equipment: 6
• Telephone or cable TV wire down: 7
• Lock-out: 2
• Domestic water leak: 1
• Smoke or odor investigation/removal: 4
• Defective elevator, no occupants: 1
• Alarm malfunction: 14
• Chemical spill/leak: 2