New fire chief confirmed in Baltimore County

Kyrle W. Preis III moments after being confirmed as the county’s new fire chief

Acting Fire Chief Kyrle W. Preis III was unanimously confirmed Monday night as the new permanent Fire Chief for Baltimore County. His new appointment is effective Tuesday.

Preis, who had been deputy chief for five years, takes over for Chief John Hohman, who retired after four decades of service to Baltimore County.

Preis started his career with the Baltimore County Fire Department in 1990 as an emergency medical technician (EMT) at the Fullerton fire station.

According to a news release, throughout his more than 26 years, Preis has held numerous positions including Fire Captain, Battalion Chief and Director of Emergency Medical Services, and in 2012 he was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief.  He earned a master’s degree in public safety administration from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois and a bachelor’s degree in fire service administration from the University of Maryland. He holds the highest level of fire officer certification from the University of Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. A lifelong resident of Baltimore County, he resides in Kingsville.

“I am grateful to be given this opportunity and excited to start the job,” Preis said in a statement. “Chief Hohman left an impressive legacy and I’ve got some big shoes to fill.”

“Chief Preis is absolutely the right person for the job,” County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said in a statement. “He has excelled as a leader in both the fire suppression side of our fire service as well as in emergency medical services. He combines solid technical skills with a real knack for communication and a collaborative leadership style that drives positive results. Chief Preis is also committed to the continued diversification of our fire department.”