MI City Official: FD Will Keep Provisional Fire Chief into 2021
By Tony Rhodin
Source The Express-Times, Easton, Pa
Easton’s deputy fire chief will be the “provisional” chief for 90 days as the city has yet to decide on the future leadership of the department, Easton’s administrator says.
Henry Hennings has been in charge since Mike Krill retired over the summer, ending his 18-month tenure in that job by submitting a comprehensive look at risks Easton faces, a first for the city. Krill, a 35-year member of the department, in early 2019 replaced fire Chief John Bast, who suddenly retired in August 2018 after 29 years with the department, including 12 years in charge.
Due to the Third Class City Code, Easton had to interview internal candidates first after Krill retired, before looking outside the department. Hennings and at least two other candidates were interviewed.
“No decision will be made on the fire chief position until at least the end of the year or the first quarter of 2021,” city Administrator Luis Campos said this week in an email.
When asked if the city was looking outside the department, or if Hennings was trying out for the top job, Campos cited other concerns.
“Because of the staffing shortages due to vacancies and injuries, the administration decided to place a hold on the hiring process until the end of the year or beginning of next year,” Campos said in a follow-up email.
The city has significant budget problems due to the pandemic’s impact on revenue and failure or politicians in Washington, D.C., to augment the city’s money stream. Numerous city employees were furloughed earlier in the year after COVID-19 took hold.
Even while Krill was the chief, Hennings, who was also fire marshal and investigated the causes of fires, usually spoke to media at fire scenes.
Krill’s selection was followed soon after by then-Deputy Chief Kevin Arnold, who had been filling in as chief since Bast left, retiring.
A city firefighter and a fire department lieutenant werebeing honored Thursday night for their courage in rescuing two people during a 2019 blaze in the city’s West Ward.
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