Mayor Don Ness has announced the appointment of Bryan Bushey as the next Chief of the Duluth Fire Department, replacing retiring Chief John Strongitharm. Congratulations, you bring a lot of experience to the job.

Bushey has served as Deputy Fire Chief since 2005 and has over thirty-five years of experience in public safety which includes serving as: Assistant Fire Chief, Training and Safety Officer, Fire Captain, and Firefighter. He has extensive training which includes graduating from the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland and being certified as an Emergency Manager in the State of Minnesota.

This appointment, pending council approval, will begin January 1, 2015, following Chief Strongitharm’s retirement, and will be effective through the rest of Mayor Ness's term ending in January 2016.

Deputy Chief Bushey and his wife Nancy live in Duluth and are the proud parents of two college students, Jake and Abby. Bryan’s father, Larry Bushey, also served as Duluth Fire Chief from 1984-1993.

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