The City of Fargo launched a national search for a new Fire Chief in anticipation of Chief Steven Dirksen’s retirement on May 16, 2025. The City received 15 applications for the position, and the Fire Chief Selection Committee conducted virtual interviews with six applicants. Three candidates were designated as finalists: Division Chief Tim Binfet of the Fargo Fire Department, Chief Gary Lorenz of the Grand Forks Fire Department and Division Chief Craig Nelson of the Fargo Fire Department.
After interviewing the three finalists in person, the Selection Committee recommended Lorenz as the candidate to be considered for appointment to the position. City Administrator Michael Redlinger, the hiring manager for the Fire Chief position, concurs with the Committee’s recommendation and will present Lorenz as the recommended candidate to the City Commission at their regular meeting on Monday, June 9. During that meeting, the City Commission will consider the recommendation to select Lorenz, and upon successful completion of the conditional offer phase of the process, Lorenz will be appointed and sworn into the position in July.
Gary Lorenz is currently the Fire Chief for the City of Grand Forks, North Dakota, a position he has held since 2018. Lorenz previously served the Fargo Fire Department for 28 years, rising to the rank of Assistant Chief.
“I want to thank the many highly qualified candidates who applied for this opportunity to lead the Fargo Fire Department. Such a talented pool of applicants made our decision difficult. Ultimately, the Selection Committee recommends, and I concur, that we have identified the one candidate whose skills and experience will best position the department for success and safeguard public safety across our community. The standard of excellence within the Fargo Fire Department is a high bar, and I am excited to offer Gary Lorenz for the City Commission’s consideration as Fire Chief,” said City Administrator Michael Redlinger, who is respectfully declining to comment further until after the City Commission approves the recommendation to appoint Lorenz as Fire Chief.
FIRE CHIEF SELECTION COMMITTEE
The members of the Fire Chief Selection Committee included:
Dr. Tim Mahoney | Mayor
Denise Kolpack | Deputy Mayor
Mary Edinger | Operations Manager, Red River Regional Dispatch Center
Casey Gibson | Firefighter
Tim Meyer | Senior Director of Emergency Operations, Sanford AirMed and Sanford Ambulance
Jill Minette | Human Resources Director
Brett Petsinger | Fire Training Captain
Michael Redlinger | City Administrator – Hiring Manager
Susan Thompson | Finance Director
David Zibolski | Police Chief
Ashley Swanson | Human Resources Associate (Facilitator)
Camila Van Dyke | Human Resources Manager (Facilitator)
Beth Wiegman | Human Resources Assistant Director (Facilitator)