VIDEO: A man with more than a quarter century of experience in the department has been appointed as Champaignโs next Fire Chief. On Wednesday, City Manager Joan Walls announced that she has appointed Tyler Funk as the City of Champaignโs next Fire Chief, effective Nov. 19.
Funk has served as Champaignโs Interim Fire Chief since July 2025, and before that, he served the Champaign Fire Department for 26 years. Funk rose to the rank of Deputy Fire Chief before retiring in 2023.
โChief Funk is an exemplary public servant who will be central to our Fire Departmentโs future growth,โ Walls said. โA strong and seasoned leader, Chief Funk is not only well-respected throughout the State, but he is also the right chief at the right time to lead the current and next generation of our fire department. I am so excited to bring Chief Funk back to the city in this crucial role.โ
