Veteran firefighter named Aurora's next chief

Aurora's 2014 Firefighter of the Year is poised to become the city's 17th chief.

Flanked by freshly waxed red trucks, ambulances and rescue boats, Mayor Tom Weisner on Thursday recommended 19-year department veteran and current fire marshal Gary Krienitz to replace retiring chief John Lehman next month.

"It's his passion for leadership and his dedication to building a professional firefighting force and his strong connection to our community that sets him apart," Weisner said. "I have a great deal of confidence that Gary will lead the department with great energy.

"Being a relatively young chief, he will have the potential to serve for many years and have a very strong impact on the Aurora Fire Department."

Krienitz, 43, a Waubonsie Valley High School graduate, served 11 years as a paramedic after joining the department in 1997. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2008 and to captain in 2014. He was appointed as fire marshal last year.

"When I was in high school at Waubonsie Valley, a friend gave me an opportunity to ride with Medic 4 at Fire Station 4. Little did I know that brief ride-a-long would have such an impact on who I would become," Krienitz said. "Now to be considered for the position as the next chief of the Aurora Fire Department is such a great honor."

Among his many accolades, Krienitz was named Firefighter of the Year in 2014 along with Pvt. Jason Larson and Pvt. Dan Murphy. Together they earned the department's top award for risking their lives to save the lives of two people during a dangerous motel fire.

Weisner said Krienitz's volunteer record also made him stand out among the six internal candidates he interviewed.

Krienitz mentors youth at Calvary Church, teaches Junior Achievement classes at local schools, and has served on medical missions in Guatemala, Cambodia, the Philippines, Brazil, Bosnia, Belgium, Slovakia and Ethiopia. He, his wife Stephanie, and their children Claire and Kevin, live in Plainfield but will be moving to Aurora within a year.

A member of the National Fire Protection Association and the International Association of Arson Investigators, Krienitz holds more than 15 certifications, including being a certified evidence technician, rescue specialist, arson investigator, emergency medical technician, juvenile fire setter counselor, and personal trainer. He has completed more than 50 training courses through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Illinois Fire Service Institute, the Illinois State Police Academy for Arson, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Krienitz received his fire science degree from the College of DuPage and was a Team Leader with the DuPage County Fire Investigation Task Force.

The city council will consider Krienitz's appointment during a special committee of the whole meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday and members are expected to formally approve the recommendation at 6 p.m.

Lehman will continue to serve as chief through his scheduled retirement date of Feb. 19, at which time Krienitz officially will be sworn in.

Krienitz will oversee roughly 190 firefighters who handle about 17,000 calls a year out of nine stations across the city.