Mike Nolan
Daily Southtown (Tinley Park, Ill.)
(TNS)
A son is following in his father’s footsteps in taking a high command position with the Tinley Park Fire Department.
Between them, Kris Dunn, recently promoted to deputy fire chief, and his late father, Ken, have combined nearly eight decades with the department.
Kris Dunn has been with the department nearly 32 years and has risen through the ranks from firefighter, engineer, lieutenant, captain and assistant chief, according to the village. He has been interim deputy chief since March. Steve Klotz is the village’s fire chief.
Dunn has numerous professional fire service certificates, according to the village. He has worked in the operational and special events division for several years and was instrumental in the creation of the village’s Unified Command Group, bringing together decision-makers from various village departments including fire, police, emergency management and public works.
Dunn has been incident commander or part of the incident command team at numerous fire and large-scale events in both Tinley Park and other communities the department assists through mutual agreements, officials said.
Tinley Park is one of 21 south and southwest suburban fire departments in MABAS District 24, or Mutual Aid Box Alarm System.
Dunn’s promotion, effective Aug. 21, was approved by the Village Board Aug. 20.
“It couldn’t go to a more deserving guy,” Trustee William Brennan said. “He has been a true professional.”
Ken Dunn started in November 1971 as a firefighter with the Tinley Park Fire Department, then advanced his way up the ranks to engineer, lieutenant, captain, assistant fire chief and in 1996 to fire chief. He also was fire inspector and fire prevention administrator and was instrumental in having firefighters go into village schools to discuss fire safety and fire prevention.
He retired as chief in 2016.
Dunn also was in the U.S. Army Security Agency, specifically in communications security, and spent 13 months in Korea and two years in Germany, according to the village.
Ken Dunn died Oct. 26, 2023, at age 76. Tinley Park held a final procession for Dunn Nov. 18.
The department was founded in 1901 and has about 120 part-time firefighters, with the department operating four stations and a fire training tower next to the village’s police station, according to the village’s website.
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