Pleasantview Fire Lieutenant Named Orland Chief

Pleasantview Fire Lt. Ken Brucki, 44, of Orland Park will serve as the new full time chief of the Orland Fire Protection District.

The hire was announced Thursday afternoon, two days after the board approved a contract to present to Brucki. He started his career as a volunteer firefighter for Merrionette Park in 1988, before joining part time with Darien-Woodridge. Brucki then was hired full time with the Pleasantview Fire Protection District in 1994, where he remained until now. He was promoted to lieutenant in June 2011. 

“I think the Orland Fire Protection District has so many dedicated firefighters and employees who I know want to focus their attentions, skills and professionalism on what they do best, providing the highest quality fire service and professional public safety for the people of the district,” Brucki said in a release from the Orland district. “I am not here to focus on anything else. I recognize the great esteem that the district’s firefighters have for their uniforms and what their uniforms represent.”

Brucki further said in the release that he is “honored and appreciative” to join Orland. His salary will be $150,000, according to the Orland Fire Protection District.

Messages for Brucki and other Pleasantview Fire personnel were not immediately returned Thursday.

Brucki’s hiring brings a yearlong search for a new full time chief to an end, following Bryant Krizik’s leveraged retirement after a .

served as acting chief during the search, and also was a final candidate for the full time position.

“At the request of the board, it was an honor to serve as Acting Fire Chief this past year,” Kay said in the release.  “I am proud of the many accomplishments the administration was able to achieve during this transitional period.  I intend to work closely with the new chief to ensure a seamless transfer of authority, succession.”

Brucki is a 12-year Orland Park resident and has volunteered as a youth coach for baseball and football leagues locally. He is father to three children; a son at Orland Junior High, another son at Carl Sandburg High School and a daughter at St. Francis University in Joliet.

Orland Fire Board President James Hickey described Brucki in the release as a “a no BS kind of person who will make fire service his number one priority.”

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