Excerpts from the City of Evanston:

Evanston Fire Department Deputy Chief Paul Polep

Evanston Fire Department photo

Evanston City Manager Erika Storlie announced the appointment of Deputy Chief Paul Polep as interim chief of the Evanston Fire Department.

Polep, a 24-year veteran of the department with 30 years of fire service experience, will assume his new role following the retirement of Fire Chief Brian Scott on Friday, January 15.

Polep began his service with the Evanston Fire Department in 1996 and has risen through the ranks serving as captain, division chief of emergency medical services, and most recently as deputy chief of operations. As deputy chief, Polep has managed the day-to-day operations of the Evanston Fire Department while also implementing key upgrades to the department’s Computer Aided Dispatch and National Fire Incident Reporting systems.

He previously served as lieutenant and as a firefighter/paramedic with McHenry Township Fire Protection District. Polep holds an associate degree in Applied Fire Science from McHenry County College, and has achieved Chief Fire Officer Designation from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. He is a resident of Evanston.

For more information, please call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 311 in Evanston.