Brief extension approved for outgoing fire chief

At its Friday, Jan. 16 meeting, the city of Rhinelander’s police and fire commission emerged from closed session to approve an extension to the date Brian Tonnancour will end his position as Rhinelander fire chief.

That ending date, originally announced as Jan. 16 in Tonnancour’s resignation letter tendered last month, was extended to today, Jan. 23. 

That’s due to some delays in Chippewa Falls, where he’s expected to be hired as that city’s fire chief, committee chair Todd McEldowney told The Northwoods River News.

 Succeeding Tonnancour on an interim basis will be former assistant fire chief Adam “AJ” Johnson, who was appointed last month.

Also during the committee’s closed session, exit interviews were conducted with Tonnancour and with the retired Lloyd Gauthier, who was succeeded as Rhinelander police chief by Josh Chiamulera earlier this month.

Ardith Carlton may be reached at [email protected].