BY SYDNEY HOOVER
The Eudora Fire Department named Chris Hull as its new assistant fire chief.
Hull was selected for the position out of 33 applicants from across the country. He has worked as a firefighter in Eudora for almost 11 years.
“I was a member of the first group of volunteers that was allowed to be out-of-town volunteers, didn’t have to be in Eudora, and I’ve been active that whole time so it’s always been something that I’ve thought it’d be great to be able to contribute more to the department and be able to continue to see it grow,” Hull said.
The position was open for three to four months after former Assistant Chief Nathan Stoermer resigned to take a fire chief position out of state. Hull began in the position earlier this month.
Fire Chief Ken Keiter said after receiving applications, the department narrowed the pool down to six candidates, two of whom were from the Eudora department, to conduct interviews before selecting the new assistant chief.
“I’m glad to have some help,” Keiter said. “When you’re missing a key leadership position like that, there’s a lot of things that go on around here on a daily basis that you don’t appreciate that that person’s position takes care of until they’re gone.”
As a student studying to be a doctor at the University of Kansas, Hull said he took a break from his science classes by studying to get his EMT. He said he began working for Eudora while looking for departments that would let him volunteer. His co-workers soon convinced him to get certified as a firefighter.
Keiter said Hull quickly became a leader within the department.
“When he’s here, he just has the character and he has the demeanor and he’s a good officer, and he acts like an officer when he’s here,” Keiter said.
Hull, who is originally from Amarillo, Texas, said he is grateful to the Eudora community, as it is where he got his start as an EMT and firefighter. He said he hopes he can continue to shape the future of the department in the supervisor position.
“Throughout the years this city has really provided a lot of opportunities for me to be involved in the leadership of this department,” Hull said. “I’m really excited to be able to shape this department to hopefully grow other people like me who are just coming into this department and show them how much this city and this department has to offer.”
Reach reporter Sydney Hoover at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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