Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Aurora Fire Chief John Lehman said Monday he is retiring Feb. 19. But because he made his intentions known to the Aurora mayor’s office last summer, they already started the process of finding his successor. The appointment should come soon, because the city and Lehman want some overlap between when the new chief is named and Lehman leaves.

Lehman, 51, was appointed and approved as Aurora’s 16th fire chief in March 2013. He served about four months before that as acting chief, after the retirement of former chief Hal Carlson. When he leaves, he will have served 29 years at the Aurora Fire Department. He joined in 1987 after a two-year stint as a volunteer with the LaGrange Park Fire Department.

Before becoming chief he served as Aurora ‘s deputy fire chief, the department’s second-highest rank. In that position, he oversaw the emergency medical services program, internal affairs and public information, and took a lead role in the preparation and management of the department’s $36 million budget. Prior to serving as deputy chief, Lehman was first assistant chief of operations, third shift commander and fire battalion chief, and held the ranks of captain, lieutenant and firefighter/paramedic. In his various roles, he has overseen the department’s training division, fire suppression and rescue operations, incident command, disaster management and served as safety officer for the department.

The chief said Monday he considers some of his key accomplishments as getting plans underway for needed expansion of the department, particularly with getting approval for replacement of Fire Station Number Seven in Garfield Park on the West Side, and plans for the department’s 10th fire station on Bilter Road near the Chicago Premium Outlets mall.

He said after leaving Aurora, he plans to relocate and look for a fire service job somewhere at a smaller department.

Tags: Aurora fire chief to retire, Aurora Fire Department, Fire Chief John Lehman, Hal Carlson