Kingsville Man To Retire From Chief Of Baltimore County Fire

The Kingsville man who has led the Baltimore County Fire Department this year will be retiring at the end of 2018. Baltimore County officials issued the announcement this week that he would be moving into a new career in the private sector after Dec. 31, 2018.

Baltimore County Fire Chief Kyrle W. Preis III, 52, is a lifelong member of the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company who has served on the board of the Greater Kingsville Civic Association and as chair of the Kingsville Recreation Council Youth Baseball program. He has also served on numerous professional boards including the Maryland EMS Board.

Starting in 2019, County Executive John Olszewski Jr. announced Assistant Chief Jennifer L. Aubert-Utz will become the acting fire chief for the Baltimore County Fire Department. She began her 18-year career with the department as a firefighter/EMT and held every rank up to assistant chief. She has a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in management with a focus on public safety and leadership and earned the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer designation, according to a statement from Baltimore County government.

During the transition, Chief Preis will act as an advisor for several months, according to a statement from the county.

“I want to express my sincere thanks to Chief Preis for his 28 years of service to the residents of Baltimore County,” Olszewski said. “He has provided valuable insight into Baltimore County’s Fire and EMS operations, and I want to thank him for continuing to assist us in the coming months as we work to build a better Baltimore County.”

Preis was appointed by the late County Executive Kevin Kamenetz in 2017 to replace the now-retired fire chief John J. Hohman.

“I truly believe that the Baltimore County Fire Department has given me the most rewarding career one could have,” Preis said in a statement.

Photo of Baltimore County Fire Chief Kyrle W. Preis III courtesy of Baltimore County government.