There is a framed print that hangs in John Kobarda's office at the city's fire headquarters. In it, dozens of firefighters encircle a building exploding in flames as the title, The Life of a Fireman, roars across the bottom.

The print -- given to Kobarda when he became the city's deputy fire chief 4 1/2 years ago -- in many ways is a reflection of his management style.

"If you think of an organization, it's not actually a pyramid, it's a circle," said Kobarda, who steps into his new role as acting fire chief today.

Kobarda was appointed to the position left vacant by former fire chief Dave Hodgins, who begins his new job as fire commissioner of British Columbia today.

With a "participatory-type management" style, Kobarda said he believes in including firefighters in making decisions.

He points to a recent trip to Colorado, where the fire department purchased three trucks.

Kobarda was accompanied on the trip by employees from the mechanical division, who fix the trucks, and firefighters, who use them.

"There's a lot of good people with a lot of good ideas and the more feedback and input you get, hopefully the better the idea will be," he said.

A firefighter since 1991, Kobarda takes over the job -- and the department's $31-million budget -- at a time when firefighters could face layoffs as city council wrestles with its budget.

Kobarda and others on his finance team are looking at ways to keep their budget tight.

He said he has realized it may be better for London to sell its old fire trucks to other departments, where they could be worth as much as $100,000, rather than auction them off to the public, as has traditionally been done, where they've usually only garnered $10,000 a vehicle.

It's that type of innovative thinking that makes Kobarda the perfect person for the job, said union president Jim Holmes.

"John is very progressive. He understands the problems with the budget and is trying to work around them, instead of just burying his head in the sand and saying, 'Oh no, give me more,' " he said.

Kobarda is tough, but fair, Holmes said.

The union and Kobarda get along well, he added, because they both understand their common goal: service to the public and city.

Kobarda also has the know-how it takes to run the department, Holmes said.

The acting fire chief said he has realized himself how important it is to have knowledge of the department, the design of the vehicles and hoses. That knowledge helps him justify why the department needs to spend the money it does on specialized equipment.

But managing a team is a role Kobarda's used to.

He spent several years working for London Machinery Inc. in a management role.

In 1991, when his father-in-law, Bob Barr, retired as the city's fire chief, Kobarda decided it was time to try his hand at a firefighting career.

Kobarda spent three years as union president.

He later accepted the position of deputy fire chief, a decision he admits was difficult.

"One of the most emotional decisions I ever made was to give up becoming a firefighter for this job. This position is great, but . . . unless you've ever been a firefighter, it's kind of hard to explain," he said.

And while Kobarda jokes he's not even allowed to touch a hose in his new role, he does say he has always wanted to do something different, look for ways to make things better or at least question whether things are being done in the best possible manner.

"I look at him as everybody's dream manager," said Holmes. "A problem comes up, we'll sit down and discuss it."

Kobarda, who shyly admits he's a workaholic and has shirked his share of dropping off his kids at karate lessons, credits much of his success to his wife, Janice.

"My off-time reading sounds really weird . . . I read about leadership because I always look at how to improve myself.

"One thing they say in leadership is you have to be prepared to make sacrifices.

"I think they kind of forgot the family, who makes the ultimate sacrifice."

JOHN KOBARDA

Position: Acting fire chief, London fire department

Age: 46

Personal: Married to Janice and father of daughter Kelly, 19, and son Steve, 15.

Work: In 1985, Kobarda was London Machinery Inc.'s production control manager. Three years later, he managed the plant. He became a firefighter in 1991 and was hired as deputy fire chief in 1999.