Excerpts from the Village of Oak Park:
Oak Park Fire Department veteran Ronald Kobyleski has been named the new fire chief.
Kobyleski, who assumed the chief’s role Friday (Nov. 19), had rotated Interim Fire Chief duties since April 2021 with Battalion Chief Kevin Fadden following the retirement of Chief Tom Ebsen, who served with the department for more than 40 years.
Fadden, a veteran of the Oak Park Fire Department since 1998, is expected to continue in the role of Interim Deputy Fire Chief until the position is filled permanently.
A veteran of the Oak Park Fire Department since 1985, Chief Kobyleski has held every rank available in the Oak Park Fire Department, including one year as deputy chief, 10 years as a battalion chief and seven years as the department’s training officer.
He has been a certified Fire Investigator, Hazardous-Materials Technician, Technical Rescue in building collapse, high rise rescue, trench rescue and confined space rescue. He also was the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Division 11 Hazardous Materials and Technical Rescue Team leader for nine years.
Kobyleski is certified by the state Fire Marshal as Advance Fire Officer and Training Program Manager, and has studied architectural design and building construction. His notable professional activities and affiliations include the International Fire Chief’s Association, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and National Fire Protection Association.
thanks Drew