The Omaha Fire Department has an interim fire chief.
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert has appointed Assistant Fire Chief Dan Olsen as interim Fire Chief effective on April 22nd. Olsen will replace Chief Bernard Kanger who is retiring.
Olsen joined the Omaha Fire Department in 1993 and has held command positions since 2007. As Assistant Chief, Olsen has supervised training and fire investigations. Most recently he led the investigation into the M's Pub fire. "l am confident in his ability to continue the excellent fire protection and emergency medical services our firefighters provide to the citizens of Omaha" said Stothert.
Olsen is also cross-trained and certified as a State of Nebraska/Omaha Police officer and was assigned to the Fire Investigation unit for three years. He also worked with the ATF to determined the cause of the 2004 Butternut Building fire. Olsen says it's an honor to be appointed as interim Fire Chief and "will strive to lead the department in a direction the citizens can be proud of while working to ensure their safety. I will do my best to maintain a positive relationship with the body of the fire department by continuing to lead in a professional and respectful manner,"
Olsen will serve as interim Fire Chief until a successor is named. A national search will begin next month.
