The city will begin the search for its permanent fire chief "very shortly," said London's director of human resources. The city is in the midst of finalizing the hiring committee, said Veronica McAlead Major.

"This is an important position within the city," she said, adding the position will be advertised across the country.

That move has drawn criticism from the firefighters' union, which says the city shouldn't look any further than acting fire chief John Kobarda.

"When you have probably one of the most qualified, knowledgeable, competent people in the entire country here right now, why do you want to go looking?" asked Jim Holmes, president of the London Professional Firefighter's Association.

He noted Kobarda, who takes over as acting fire chief today, is one of a handful of people in Canada to undergo emergency management training at the U.S. National Fire Academy in Maryland.

"He's got more knowledge than anybody you could ever imagine," Holmes said.

"There are departments across Canada that are so envious of our position with someone like that. They would give anything to have someone like John."

Holmes said his fear is if the city hires an outside fire chief, too much time may be spent bringing that person up to speed on critical issues facing the department, such as contract and budget negotiations.

"The last thing our department needs right now, with all the turmoil we're going through -- we're talking about budget cuts -- is having to indoctrinate a new fire chief from somewhere else. It's just silly," he said.

"Unfortunately, (the city will) probably waste a whole bunch of money advertising . . . and logic dictates they'll come back to the guy anyways."