DEKALB – DeKalb Fire Chief Mike Thomas will be honored by the City Council tonight as he retires after 30 years of service. Thomas joined the department in 1995 as a Firefighter/Paramedic and advanced to Chief in 2022. He helped secure a $2.7 million federal grant to hire nine new firefighter/paramedics, allowing the department to raise its minimum staffing levels for the first time since the early 2000s. Under his leadership, the department also obtained funding for new engines, ambulances, and a $1.6 million truck. Thomas led planning for a new fire station on the city’s southwest side, which opened this spring. Deputy Chief Luke Howieson will serve as Acting Chief after Thomas steps down.
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