By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Joseph Fire Department has chosen it’s new leader from within its own ranks, naming Ivan Klippenstein the department’s new chief.
Klippenstein joined the St. Joseph Fire Department in January 2002 and has served in several roles, including as a firefighter, first responder, confined space technician, driver and captain. He has been a training officer with the department since October 2019.
Beginning his career with the Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, Fire Company as a volunteer firefighter in 1989, Klippenstein also worked as an EMT in that community. He joined the Lewiston, Idaho, Rural Fire Service as a volunteer wildland firefighter in 1990 and has been a member of the Central DeKalb County Fire Protection District since 1998, serving as its chief from 2002 to 2005.
Klippenstein was a firefighter at Rosecrans Memorial Airport from 2001 to 2002 and taught firefighting, HAZMAT and first responder courses as an adjunct instructor at Hillyard Technical Center from 2003 to 2007.
“I have been involved in fire service since I was 17 in some form, and there’s a lot of good coming in the St. Joseph Fire Department that I look forward to leading,” Klippenstein said in a news release from the city. “I want to create involvement and inspire people. I think many would like to participate, and they just need to be given the opportunity.”
Klippenstein, who will lead a staff of about 130 in St. Joseph, was chosen from a pool of 20 applicants. St. Joseph City Manager Mike Schumacher says Klippenstein’s experience in training set him apart.
“Ivan is the right person to move our fire department forward,” Schumacher says. “We want to take care of our professional and hardworking firefighters by making sure they are equipped with training that prioritizes their safety and that of our citizens.”
Klippenstein’s appointment is effective May 19. His salary will be $140,000. He replaces Kenny Cordonnier, who retired on April 4.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.