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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Fire Department
602 West Second Street • Duluth, Minnesota 55802
218-730-4400 •www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact Kelli Latuska,
Public Information Officer at 218-730-5309
DATE: 1/6/2021
SUBJECT: Duluth Fire Department names new Deputy Chief
BY: Kate Van Daele, Public Information Officer

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Duluth Fire Department names new Deputy Chief

[Duluth, MN] A twenty-year veteran of the Duluth Fire Department has a new title, Deputy Chief of Life Safety.  Jon Otis, the now-former Deputy Fire Marshal, has been selected to serve as the Department’s next Deputy Chief. The position, last filled by Marnie Grondahl, has been vacant since her retirement in May of 2020.

“Jon will make a great addition to the Duluth Fire Department command staff,” said Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj. “Jon brings a lot of experience with over four years as a Deputy Fire Marshal and holds two Masters degrees in Leadership and Change, and Management. I look forward to Jon’s leadership perspective and am pleased to have him on our team!”

Otis was hired initially by the Duluth Fire Department in 2000 and served as a firefighter for sixteen years before being promoted to Deputy Fire Marshal. In this position, Otis served as the lead on many key fire investigations, including the Adas Synagogue fire and several of the recent Pastoret Terrace fires, to name a few. Otis earned his Fire Investigator certification from the State of Minnesota in 2017, followed by his Fire Investigation Technician certification in 2018. Before working at the Duluth Fire Department, Otis worked as a wildland firefighter with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for three years. He served as an Engine Boss on Task Force One for four years.

Otis is no stranger to accolades. In 2014, he was selected by the Duluth News Tribune as a member of the 20 under 40 class. In 2016, he was named as an OTA Builder, a regional recognition for his leadership in collaboration and engagement in his community. In 2016, Jon was selected to participate in Leadership Duluth, a program by the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. He was then chosen by his peers to serve on the Leadership Duluth Steering Committee.

“I am excited to join the Duluth Fire Department leadership team and focus on Life Safety and Emergency Management,” Deputy Chief Otis said. “I look forward to continuing the great work of the Life Safety Division by supporting our team of dedicated professionals.”

Deputy Chief Otis’s first official day in his new position was on January 4.

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