MCKINNEY, Texas — The City of McKinney announced Tuesday that its fire chief, Danny Kistner, will be retiring at the end of January after 11 years with the city's fire department.
A nationwide search for Kistner's replacement will begin in the coming weeks, the city said.
Kistner wrote in a letter to the McKinney Fire Department announcing his retirement said that one of the proudest moments for him as fire chief was the department's response to the 2020 COVID pandemic.
"You provided PPE to long-term care facilities and other agencies that lacked supplies. You provided over 18,000 COVID tests to the region’s long-term care facilities," Kistner wrote. "Stepping up to protect the community in times of greatest need is what we do."
Under Kistner's leadership, the department grew to more than 250 full-time employees, added three new fire stations with sites secured for two more, and became recognized as one of the Texas Best Practice Fire Departments.
"We have a lot to be proud of," Kistner wrote. "MFD is regarded as a leader in the industry and will continue to grow and prosper in the years ahead."
The department also grew to two battalions operationally, he wrote, and added a logistics division and warehouse. The department also launched a novel community healthcare program, one of five fire-based programs in the nation.
“At the height of the pandemic, the McKinney Fire Department, under the steady leadership and guidance of Chief Kistner, joined the effort to vaccinate the public because there was a deep need to get shots to our most vulnerable citizens as quickly as possible," McKinney Mayor George Fuller said in a statement. "They administered more than 60,000 life-saving shots, giving countless people hope from the terrible disease. For that, and for his many other contributions to the community, we cannot thank him enough."
McKinney City Manager Paul Grimes said the city is sincerely grateful for the years of service Kistner has given to the city.
"He helped modernize and grow our Fire Department to a large, 11-station metropolitan department that is truly best in class," Grimes said in a statement. "For that, he has much to be proud of, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors."
