DeKalb Fire Chief Eric Hicks is always trying to become more experienced and better trained, which is why, even after years of experience, he is finishing up courses at the National Fire Academy.

Work experience is something Hicks takes pride in. Hicks has held all but one position with the DeKalb Fire Department. He started his career in the fire department in the 1980s when he was a volunteer firefighter in Ogle County. He became a fireman for DeKalb in January 1989 and has worked for the city since.

“The city has been great to me. I love working here, I love coming into work every day,” Hicks said.

He was a firefighter paramedic until 1998, when he was promoted to fire prevention lieutenant. Hicks’ role as the fire prevention lieutenant was to enforce fire prevention codes, increase public awareness of fire safety and enforce fire investigation.

In 2001, Hicks transferred to shift lieutenant, a position he held until 2008. The role of a shift lieutenant is to be in charge of his or her company at his or her respective fire station. DeKalb has three fire stations.

Hicks was promoted to captain and then battalion chief of training. The role of battalion chief of training is record keeping and training of the shift members.

After that role, Hicks became the shift battalion chief. His task was to manage the shift of all three fire stations.

In February 2012, former Fire Chief Bruce Harrison retired, and Hicks was made interim fire chief until he was fully promoted into the position.

“It’s been a great career I’ve had,” Hicks said. “I’ve worked with a lot of great people, our staff is very good. We do a lot with a little.”

Hicks’ role as the fire chief is to manage the budget, hire new personnel and write policy.

“[I] Keep the train on the tracks, [I] support the shift operations,” Hicks said.

He plans to stay in DeKalb as long as he can to serve his community.

“Throughout my career, I had a lot of good opportunities to train. We’ve trained all over the United States.”

He spent two weeks in Louisiana to help with the cleanup effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Hicks participated in radiation training at an atomic bomb test site south of Las Vegas. He attended bomb school at New Mexico Tech, and also had hazardous material training in Alabama.

He maintains his paramedic certification, which lapses every two years.

“I have 45,000 citizens to take care of and provide them a quality service,” Hicks said.

Hicks is hiring new employees and preparing for a new dispatch system that will roll out on April 24.