Fire Chief Thrives in Heat of Spotlight

Rubin's Style 'In Your Face,' Colleagues Say

It was past midnight in Adams Morgan, and for the second time in less than three weeks, firefighters descended on neighborhood streets, ready for battle.

Lights blazed from trucks stationed at hydrants early last Thursday. Water gushed from fire hoses, and hand-held radios crackled with commands. D.C. Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin monitored every move from his mobile command center.

But there was no fire.

It was the latest salvo in a very public dispute between the District's new fire chief and the longtime head of the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority. Rubin had come in the predawn darkness to prove that WASA General Manager Jerry N. Johnson was wrong, and that the area's antiquated water mains were to blame for firefighters' troubles in extinguishing a blaze this month that ravaged a condominium building and left dozens without homes.

Six months after coming to the District from Atlanta, Rubin is shaping up to be a fire chief like no other in the city's recent history. Last week's testing showdown is only the most recent indication that his leadership style includes an eagerness to put his case before the public and an appetite for bureaucratic combat.

His bold style has attracted fans, including D.C. Council member Jim Graham, who heads the council committee that oversees WASA. Graham, who lives in Adams Morgan, has echoed Rubin's concerns that outdated, undersized water mains do not provide adequate fire protection for the dense, growing neighborhood.

"Rubin's a very in-your-face guy. He says what's on his mind," said Graham (D-Ward 1). "That's not music to some people."

To Johnson, Rubin's dire warnings sound more like nails on a chalkboard.

"The relationship at the top levels [of the two departments] soured shortly after his arrival," Johnson said of Rubin in an interview last week.

There is little indication that it has sweetened.

For months, Rubin and Johnson have wrangled over a proposed agreement that would outline each agency's responsibilities for maintaining the city's hydrants. Rubin wants his department to test each hydrant twice a year and to have WASA share the costs. He also wants hydrants to be color-coded to indicate water flow, a practice he says is followed nationally. Currently, WASA is responsible for hydrant inspections.

On Tuesday, the D.C. Council weighed in on the issue, approving emergency legislation that gives the fire and water agencies 30 days to figure out how to resolve the hydrant issue. "There's no more pointing fingers," said Yvette M. Alexander (D-Ward 7), who introduced the resolution. "It's time to take responsibility. It's a public safety issue."