Orland Fire Protection District Chief Ken Brucki has been placed on a paid leave of absence, with an interim chief having been appointed, a district spokesman confirmed Thursday.
Brucki, the district’s chief since June 2012, asked for and was given a leave for an indefinite time for “personal reasons,” spokesman Ray Hanania said in an email. He did not elaborate on the reason for Brucki’s request.
The leave took effect Tuesday. Battalion Chief Michael Schofield was named to serve as interim chief.
A call left at Brucki’s home Thursday was not returned.
He was selected from three finalists for the chief’s job following the retirement in 2011 of Bryant Krizik, who had been on administrative leave.
Prior to being hired by the Orland fire district, Brucki worked since 1994 for the Pleasantview Fire Protection District, which serves Countryside, Hodgkins, Indian Head Park and portions of Burr Ridge.
He began his career as a volunteer firefighter in Merrionette Park in 1988 and later was a part-time firefighter in Darien-Woodridge before taking a full-time position at Pleasantview.
Schofield has been with the Orland district since 1978.
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Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter.