PHOTOS: DeKalb Fire Chief Mike Thomas may have answered his final call for service. After 30 years with the DeKalb Fire Department, Thomas will ceremoniously pass the torch to Acting Chief Luke Howieson, according to city documents released ahead of Mondayโs City Council meeting.
The proceedings will begin at 6 p.m. Monday at the DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St. Thomas was first hired as a firefighter and paramedic in July 1997, according to the city. He climbed the ranks over the years, from lieutenant and paramedic, to captain and then battalion chief. It wasnโt until October 2021 that Thomas was promoted to deputy fire chief of operations, his first management position. Shortly after, he was appointed acting fire chief upon the retirement of his predecessor, Chief Jeff McMaster. Thomas was named the cityโs permanent fire chief in April 2022.
