Firefighting Brian Platz is North Liberty’s first full-time chief

NORTH LIBERTY - Next month, Brian Platz is returning to his volunteer roots.

Platz, 46, grew up in the Dyersville Fire Department, a volunteer department where his dad was chief for 18 years and also served as president of the Iowa Firefighters Association.

A deputy chief with the Iowa City Fire Department, Platz is to join the North Liberty Fire Department on Nov. 6 as its first full-time chief. He will be paid a salary of $108,763.

The department has 38 volunteers and two part-time paid assistant chiefs. The North Liberty City Council decided to hire a full-time chief, given its rapid population growth - now at 18,500 - and the city's increasing number of fire calls.

Platz has worked for the Iowa City Fire Department for 24 years and also has been a volunteer with the Solon Fire Department for close to 20 years.

As Iowa City's deputy fire chief, Platz has been responsible for coordinating and directing emergency operations, maintaining facilities, managing special projects and serving as the department's accreditation manager.

While his departure from the Iowa City department is bittersweet, Platz can't hide his excitement about his new job. He can't help but smile at the thought of running calls again.

'I haven't been on a front-line piece of equipment for seven years,” Platz said. 'That's exciting for me. I'm kind of psyched. I'm excited to get to know the people.”

With firefighting in his blood, there never seemed to be any doubt Platz would become a firefighter.

After graduating from high school in 1990, his parents insisted he go to college. He earned a degree in robotics from what is now Hawkeye Community College. In 1993, he was hired by the Iowa City Fire Department.

'It was an unbelievable environment,” he said. 'It was a lot of fun. It was everything I hoped it would be.”

Platz said he loved the thrill of running calls, how each day was different and 'just that opportunity to make somebody's day better.”

Platz said his goal was to become a battalion chief - which he achieved in April 2010 - but his 'dream job” was running a volunteer fire department.

Platz said he'd been promoted to his deputy chief's job in January and wasn't looking for a new job when the North Liberty job was advertised.

But as he started thinking about a young department in a growing community, the idea took hold.

'I see such an opportunity with that position to make a significant difference,” Platz said.

Platz said he'll miss his Iowa City co-workers, and he praised Iowa City Fire Chief John Grier and the city staff for their support.

Nonetheless, Platz said he's ready to hit the ground running in North Liberty. He said he's eager to determine the department's strengths and areas for improvement and prepare to guide it into the future.

'I just feel I'm a really good fit for that position,” he said.

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