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When Fire Chief Tracy Pansini went on a temporary medical leave last summer, Ray Krakowski was placed in his spot as Acting Chief. Soon after, however, the leave was was extended until it was decided that Pansini would retire, just four years after entering the job. “Now the time has come to embark on a new life direction that certainly involves spending more time with family and friends," Pansini said in a statement.
Now Krakowski is set to become the new Chief later this month. “It will be an honor to lead this exceptional department,” he said. “I have spent my entire professional life with the City and have such admiration for our firefighters." The 20-year veteran of the department has a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Administration from UCLA and is working toward his Master of Public Administration degree at CSUN.
