The City of Peoria will be looking for a new fire chief. Chuck Lauss will leave the position of chief effective January 31st.
In the short term, he will help his daughter work on her house in Portland, Oregon. Longer term, the 58-year-old Lauss intends to look for employment in emergency service outside the central Illinois area.
Lauss has been chief in Peoria for two years. He became assistant chief in 2013. Prior to that, he headed Caterpillar’s fire department for five years, and preceding that was fire chief for seven years in Pekin.
City manager Patrick Urich is responsible for naming a replacement. Assistant Chief Ed Olehy will take the Chief's position February 1st.