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Duluth Fire Department recognizes 33 members in promotions or completion of probation

[Duluth, MN] The Duluth Fire Department is proud to recognize 25 members within the Department who have been promoted since the last pinning ceremony in 2019. The Department is also excited to recognize eight firefighters who have completed their year of probation. The Department was hopeful to have an in-person pinning ceremony today, August 31, however the ceremony was cancelled due to increasing COVID cases within St. Louis County and Duluth.

“This ceremony means a lot to our Department,” Chief Shawn Krizaj said. “Due to COVID, this is the second year that we have not been able to have the ceremony and recognize promotions and completion of probation.”

The Chief went on to say; “I am really proud of the members of our Department who worked hard to be promoted, or to pass probation. We see the dedication from our members come through everyday in the calls for service that they go on. The last 17 months have been extremely hard, and yet they have persevered, and continued to lead by example. I could not be prouder of the 33 people that would have been recognized today.”

Eight firefighters would have been pinned for the completion of their probation within the last two years. Those individuals are:

-          Kyle Achman, Firefighter

-          Ryan Dahnke, Firefighter

-          Steven Malzacher, Firefighter

-          Joe Marinac, Firefighter

-          Tim Pearson, Firefighter

-          Jacob Rossing, Firefighter

-          Sam Solyntjes, Firefighter

-          Ryan Warnemunde, Firefighter

Twenty-five members of the Department who have been promoted in the last two years. Their names and new titles are as follows:

-          Jon Otis, Deputy Chief of Life Safety

-          Sandy McComb, Fire Marshal

-          Bill Chopskie, Deputy Fire Marshal

-          Chris Orman, Deputy Fire Marshal

-          Nicholas Biondich, Captain

-          Jake Gunderson, Captain

-          Ben Johnson, Captain

-          Eric Kilpo, Captain

-          Andrew Beck, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Chris Cid, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Sam Cooley, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Nick Fleming, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Cory Flesch, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Brian Hill, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Michael Hoeffling, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Ben Tessier, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Marcie Thole, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Josh Toms, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Dave Torgerson, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Matt Wedin, Fire Equipment Officer

-          Sohn Wehseler, Property & Solid Waste Compliance Officer

-          Greg Smith, Lead Housing Inspector

-          Tim Gilbertson, Fire Plans Examiner

-          Samantha Singer, Executive Assistant

-          Alisson Shea, Administrative Information Specialist

The Duluth Fire Department would like to thank each of the men and women named above for their selfless service. Thank you for all that you do to protect life and property in Duluth.

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