Less than a week after Police Chief Scott Lyons announced retirement, Fire Chief Dan Haus gave similar notice. Haus, 54, announced Monday, that he will retire at the end of the year, the same time frame as Lyons.
He has been with the Duluth Fire Department since 1976 and was appointed chief by Mayor Gary Doty in 1999 after Chief Duane Flynn retired. Haus was originally hired as a firefighter and has served as a fire equipment operator, fire captain and training chief before being appointed deputy fire chief in 1991 by then-Chief Larry Bushey.
"It's time for a fresh face in this position," Haus said. "I am now able to retire, have the opportunity to do so, and it's time to move on."
He said his announcement was not related to the retirement of Lyons.
"It has been a pleasure to serve the citizens of Duluth for the last 27 years," Haus said. "Mayor Doty and his administration have been terrific to work with, and he has been very supportive of the department.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I have the opportunity to have time with my family and I'm taking it."
Haus also served as Duluth's city emergency manager and had a lead role in the immediate local responses to the attacks on Sept. 11 and the anthrax threat.
That position also kept him in the news in the wake of the April 22, 2001, ice storm that caused an estimated $4 million worth of damage to public and private property in Duluth and left many homes without power for days.
Under Haus' leadership, the department expanded its hazmat unit, created a confined space rescue team and acquired high-tech thermal imaging cameras through a fund-raising campaign.
The chief credited department employees for their hard work during his tenure as chief.
"We have tremendous people," he said. "The good people that work here did the hardest work, and I will miss them greatly."
"Dan has done an outstanding job serving our citizens, and I thank him for it," Doty said. "His dedication and service to Duluth and its citizens deserves our thanks."
The mayor said a search process, similar to the one being used for police chief, will be started soon to find a new fire chief.
ADVERTISEMENT
Haus said he will miss interacting with the public.
"I get a lot of 'thank you' messages from citizens for our firefighters, and that shows what good people we have here, not only in our department but in our community," he said. "I am grateful for the support I have received."
