By Kendrick Calfee
The Kansas City Star
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department Chief Dennis L. Rubin announced this week that he is stepping down from his role after leading the department for 3½ years.
Rubin was picked as the department’s fire chief in 2023, taking the helm after former Chief Michael Callahan resigned amid friction with the local firefighters’ union.
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During Rubin’s tenure, the department expanded training programs and increased community engagement and public education, according to a news release. The department also improved its emergency response fleet by upgrading fire engines, ladder trucks and ambulances.
Rubin’s last day at the department will be Oct. 31 . In a news release Friday, Rubin said that he was grateful for his time as chief.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to be the 19th fire chief for Kansas City, Kansas,” Rubin said. “I have enjoyed my time leading a great fire department. I am certain that KCKFD will continue to do great and wonderful work for the community.”
Changes to KCK Fire Department
Rubin inherited a department roiled by tensions between leadership and the firefighters’ union. His predecessor, Callahan, was at times viewed as a controversial leader the union criticized over work safety and culture.
Callahan, however, told the Star in a 2023 interview that he was happy with the legacy he was leaving.
In a 2023 news release, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK said Rubin made “great strides” among department staff, fire unions and the community, shortly after he assumed the interim chief role.
At the time, Rubin had evaluated department processes and created plans to improve the department’s services, the Unified Government said.
Rubin has since led the department through changes that “directly support the department and the residents of Kansas City, Kansas,” a news release said.
Under his leadership, the department strengthened the community paramedic program and launched the Whole Blood Program, which allows paramedics to administer life-saving blood transfusions at the scene of an emergency.
Rubin testified before Congress on behalf of the Unified Government and other fire departments in 2025, opposing fire truck manufacturer monopolies.
The Unified Government also credited Rubin with saving over $5 million in overtime expenses.
New union criticism
Rubin eventually faced union criticism of his own. In April, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 64 union cast a vote of no confidence in Rubin and County Administrator David Johnston.
Johnston resigned from his post as county administrator on July 5.
Local 64 said in a letter that its loss of confidence in Rubin was because of ongoing concerns about leadership, decision-making and safety in the department.
While the government touted Rubin’s overtime savings, Local 64 leaders said the cuts meant less staff and resulted in unsafe operations.
Rubin acknowledged the union’s frustrations in a response to the no-confidence vote, but said there were no funds available to increase overtime.
Local 64 filed a lawsuit against the Unified Government in August, alleging members were not permitted to speak to elected officials about staffing and safety concerns at the KCKFD.
The Unified Government said it disagreed with union leadership on the merits of the suit, since Kansas law and the union contract stipulate that union members can’t lobby elected officials on contract matters.
Search begins for new fire chief
Interim County Administrator Alan Howze recognized Rubin’s service to the department in a statement Friday.
“On behalf of the Unified Government, I want to thank Chief Rubin for his service and commitment,” Howze said. “His dedication to the department and the greater good of the fire service has been greatly appreciated. We wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
According to a news release, the Unified Government plans to conduct a national search for the next KCKFD fire chief.
Plans for interim leadership are in the works, the news release said.
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