North Carolina man picked as new Point fire chief Stevens Point has a new fire chief. The Stevens Point Police and Fire Commission announced the appointment of Mark Barnes to the position. Barnes is fire chief of the Westerea Fire Department in Fayetteville, N.C., where he lives with his wife, Maria, and son, Jamie. Barnes will assume his new duties in about 60 days. He succeeds Pete Ugorek who headed the department from August 1984 until taking an early retirement, effective April 14. Ugorek came to the Stevens Point Fire Department as its first training officer in July 1980 and succeeded Victor Soik as chief. Since Ugorek's retirement, Steve Koback has been serving as interim chief. Barnes received a bachelor of arts degree from Spring Arbor College in Spring Arbor, Mich., and an associate of arts degree from Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Mich. He has professional certifications as an executive fire officer, emergency medical technician-paramedic and certified fire instructor.