Fire chief to retire

Fire Chief Douglas Barry, who helped begin transforming the Los Angeles Fire Department when it was embroiled in controversy over racism and hazing, announced Thursday he plans to retire on Aug. 30.Daily News.

Barry, 55, the city's first African-American fire chief, said he decided to retire now because he believed he has accomplished many of his goals and it was time to allow someone new to come in.

"Let me stress, I am retiring," Barry said at a news conference in the Fire Commission hearing room. "There is no drama there. I understand there will be those who will assume that there is some form of controversy connected to my retirement. That is not the case."