Published on Tuesday, August 26, 2008

After 6 years, fire chief bids adieu

By ALAN EDRINN

DeKalb Fire Chief Lanny Russell said goodbye to the DeKalb Fire Department July 30 after six years as fire chief.

Russell has worked in the fire service for 44 years at Peotone, Downers Grove, Villa Park and DeKalb Fire Departments.

He started as a volunteer firefighter in Peotone, before being promoted to fire chief in 1977, which became a full-time job in 1983. He later worked at the Villa Park Fire Department, and then Downers Grove where he served as fire chief for nine years.

With an 11-month-old granddaughter and another grandchild on the way, Russell looks forward to spending more time with his family and not having to live by a schedule.

“That’s the key right now, spending a little more time with them,” Russell said. “I don’t plan on taking another job of any kind.”

In Russell’s absence, former Assistant Fire Chief Bruce Harrison has been named acting fire chief, said City Manager Mark Biernacki. The process of hiring a new fire chief has not been determined, and it is unknown when a new chief would be hired, Biernacki said.

Russell, who recommended Harrison to replace him as fire chief, said Harrison shares his philosophy about the position and did an “outstanding job” as assistant chief.

Harrison said Russell served the community well, and it would be a great honor to work as the department’s chief.

“We plan on continuing to find ways to be efficient and work diligently to be prepared,” Harrison said. “That’s not going to change from Russell’s retirement.”

Harrison is expecting to serve as acting fire chief for about six months, and around that time he expects the city will start working to find a permanent fire chief.

“I think we’ll continue on to serve the community well, and just keep working every day and just see what they decide to do for a permanent selection of a fire chief,” he said.