Training Facility Named In Honor Of Retired Posen Fire Chief

POSEN, IL – A surprise dedication on September 11 ended with the renaming of the fire training facility at the Public Works building in Posen the John Krizik Fire Training Facility. Public officials joined family and friends for the dedication made in honor of Krizik, who first joined the Posen Fire Department in 1966 and later became the department chief.

“Chief John Krizik exemplifies everything that is courageous and generous about a modern-day firefighter and the Posen Fire Department is a better place for that,” said Chief Kevin Szewczyk, Posen’s current fire chief.

It was Krizik who first realized Posen needed a formal training program and took it upon himself to become a certified training instructor in 1970, according to a news release. Eighteen years later, he started the first District 2 training academy to provide basic firefighter training to all departments within the MABAS 22 division.

A core value of Krizik is that all firefighters should be trained, practically and formally. Now, the Posen Fire Academy continues to operate out of the Public Works building at 14900 S. Rockwell Ave.

Krizik continued his career in the fire service even after suffering a tragic fall from a roof that resulted in permanent paralysis from the waist down. He retired from Posen in 2001, but later managed the fire prevention bureau at the Homer Fire Protection District and became an administrator with the Frankfort Fire Protection District.

He said he was "overwhelmed" by last week's dedication, which was attended by his family and friends as well as personnel, firefighters and trainees with the Posen Fire Department.

Photos provided by Bill Figel