Redding City Manager Kurt Starman today announced the appointment of Kevin L. Kreitman of Albany, Oregon, as Redding Fire Chief, replacing Duane Fry.
Kreitman, 48, has spent his entire career in the Albany Fire Department, the last nine as its Fire Chief. He was chosen following a nationwide search that attracted 26 highly qualified applicants both locally and from outside California. The position was advertised widely in state and national publications.
Kreitman will begin his duties on September 1, Starman said. Chief Fry’s official retirement date is August 8, however he has agreed to remain with the department until his successor arrives.
“Chief Kreitman has developed an excellent reputation within the fire service,” Starman said. “He has a tremendous amount of experience and expertise. I am confident that he will be an outsanding Fire Chief for the City of Redding.”
A lifelong Oregon resident, Kreitman joined the Albany Fire Department as a volunteer and served as a paramedic/firefighter, lieutenant, battalion chief/training officer and assistant fire chief before being promoted to the top spot. He has been active in state and national firefighting organizations and has been an instructor at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He oversees a department that provides fire protection, emergency medical services and ambulance service to approximately 50,000 residents.
Albany is Oregon’s 12th-largest city, with a population of 47,400. It is located on Interstate 5 about 70 miles south of Portland. The city is known as the rare metals capital of the world and several local industries produce zirconium, hafnium, and titanium, according to the city’s web site.
“My wife and I are both looking forward to coming to the community,” Kreitman said. “I am very impressed with the professionalism of those in the department and the City and am really looking forward to working with them.”
Kreitman will oversee a department of 88 full-time and 12 on-call seasonal firefighters working out of eight fire stations across Redding. His annual salary will be $138,000.
