Fairview's Timothy Gilnak to succeed Christopher Maeder as fire chief

Christopher Maeder slept in the passenger seat as Timothy Gilnack drove. 

It was 1996. For eight weeks they traveled to Dutchess County's fire academy. On the weekend, Maeder worked 28 hours as an emergency medical technician.

"Both of us were volunteers, with hopes of getting a job," Maeder said. "And eventually we were both able to get hired. Timmy got hired before me and then I got hired a year later. We've spent most of our career together."

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Two decades later, Maeder is gearing up to retire from his position as Fairview Fire District's chief. The board of fire commissioners promoted Gilnak from fire captain to deputy fire chief, effective Friday. He will fill Maeder's role when he transitions to a job in the private sector. 

Maeder was hired by the department in 1999, promoted to lieutenant in 2006 and captain in 2008 before his appointment to fire chief in 2011. He said he's proud of the firefighters and of the department's ability to become a data-driven organization during his nine years as chief. 

"That was one of my first priorities as chief and we accomplished it relatively early on in my tenure," he said. "I think data really helped us identify what we are as an organization, what we do and how we do it to allow us to improve."

Maeder said he's also proud of the robust public education program the department developed, from car seat and smoke alarm installations to events like MidHudson Regional Hospital's teddy bear clinic where Fairview members educate children about what EMTs and firefighters do. 

Fairview hired Gilnak in 1998. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2012 and captain in 2017. He describes his journey to a career in firefighting as an accident. The 52-year-old served in the U.S. Army for over seven years and during Operation Desert Storm.

"Before we were deployed to go overseas to Desert Storm, they had a shortage of medics so I was cross-trained as a combat lifesaver for my platoon," Gilnak said. "That's how I got into the medical field. So when I got out of the service, there wasn't much to do and I fell into (EMS and firefighting).

As a man of few words, Gilnak said his priority as chief is to continue to support the district's staff and community. 

"I strive to take on responsibility and make a difference," he said. "It's not so much rank or anything, but I want to be in a position to make changes and moves without sitting on the sidelines."

Ryan Santistevan: rsantistev@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4809; Twitter: @NewsByRyan_.