Carol Stream fire chief to retire after 29 years

Carol Stream Fire Chief Mike Kanzia will retire at the end of the month after 29 years with the Carol Stream Fire Protection District.

Village Manager Joe Breinig made the announcement during his final report at the village board meeting, adding he wished Kanzia well.

Village President Frank Saverino said Kanzia's experience helped make him a strong fire chief.

"He worked hard and did all the right things to move up the ranks," Saverino said. "I have seen more innovation than I have ever seen before."

Kanzia was appointed chief in September 2007 after serving as interim chief for four months.

Greg Schwarze, a village trustee and a firefighter, said the department will miss him and that, in just two years, Kanzia made a difference.

"The change that he's made over the last couple of years has been phenomenal," Schwarze said. "The morale has just been great around there."

The announcement comes one week after the fire board learned of Kanzia's decision to retire, however, the board has not said who will replace him. The fire board's next meeting is Monday, Sept. 28.

Also at Monday's meeting, the board amended an ordinance to allow a gun owner with a valid firearm owners' identification card to carry unloaded weapons in a vehicle.

The original ordinance, which police Chief Kevin Orr said has been around for years, allowed only peace officers to carry guns in a vehicle.

Now anyone may do so, provided the guns are unloaded, or "not immediately accessible," which means they should be taken apart, Orr added.

The amendment was needed to mirror the state code, Orr said.