Fire Chief Vlietstra

Biography

Chad was appointed Fire Chief in December of 2018 and is a life-long resident of Chicago Heights.   Chad attended St. Paul’s Lutheran grade school and graduated from Marian Catholic High South.  He also studied at Waldorf University where he received a Bachelor’s in Fire Science Administration. Chad received his Fire Science education through Prairie State College, the Illinois Fire Service Institute, the Illinois Fire Chief's Association, and the Illinois Society of Fire Service Instructors organization. He is also an Illinois Department of Public Health licensed paramedic. In February of 2021, he received his Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence where he became one of the only 1,550 CFO designees worldwide.
Chad has been a member of the South Chicago Heights Fire Department since June 1 2003, when he joined as a paid-on-call firefighter. He has risen through the ranks successively serving as a Firefighter/Paramedic, Engineer, Lieutenant, Captain and Assistant Chief.

Family

Chad currently resides with his wife, Christina, and two daughters Caitlyn and Addison.