Staff photo / Nathanael Hawthorne John Stevens, left, gets sworn in as the fire chief for the Niles fire department by Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz, right. Stevens will replace Dave Danielson, who retired Sunday after 37 years with the department.

NILES — Leadership of the city’s fire department will now fall to chief-in-waiting John Stevens, who was sworn in as the new chief at last week’s council meeting.

Stevens, a 24-year veteran, will take charge of the department Sept. 15 — 10 days after the current chief, Dave Danielson, officially retired.

Prior to the city council meeting, Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz read a proclamation recognizing Danielson’s 37 years of service to the department.

“Dave served as a mentor to many firefighters and fostered useful fire training and has educated students on fire prevention and fire safety,” Mientkiewicz read. “He has worked on bettering the department with fire house, technology and equipment upgrades, including two engine purchases in 2015 and 2020.”

Mientkiewicz also said Danielson fit the position well since his swearing-in as chief five years ago.

“He’s communicated well with my administration, he’s efficient within the department, his guys respect him and he’s a wealth of knowledge,” Mientkiewicz said.

Stevens said his hope is to continue the work Danielson has done.

“I just hope to do as good a job as Dave did and I hope I can make everyone happy and proud,” he said.

As lieutenant, Stevens lent a hand in grant writing and was essential to helping the department obtain a new fire truck last year. Mientkiewicz had nothing but positive things to say about the newly-sworn in chief.

“John has been an asset to the department since I became involved in council and the administration. He’s a very hard working employee, very loyal to the department and to his colleagues and he excels in grant writing. He was instrumental in helping write the grant for the last fire truck,” Mientkiewicz said.

Stevens said some of his goals for the position are upgrades to equipment and technology, as well as overseeing projects coming to the department’s second station such as interior upgrades, additional concrete in front of the building and upgrades to the bay doors of the garage. He feels his aptitude for grant writing will continue to benefit the department and he is proud to be the new chief.

“It’s a good feeling. I look forward to leading the guys into the future,” he said. “I’ve already done a lot for the department as far as grants and I think I can expand on that as chief.”