KENTWOOD, Mich. — Kentwood Fire Chief Brent Looman is set to retire after 35 years of dedicated service to the community, city officials announced this week. His final day with the City of Kentwood will be January 8, 2027.

Looman began his career with the city in 1991 as a part-time firefighter. Over the following decades, he steadily ascended through the department's ranks. He served as fire inspector beginning in 1997, fire marshal starting in 2000, and deputy fire chief from 2007 until he was selected as fire chief in 2011.

"Chief Looman is a tremendous example of a true public servant whose character exemplifies a caring soul using his profession and dedication to serve his community especially when they need him most," Mayor Stephen Kepley said in a prepared statement. "We are grateful for his leadership, his commitment to our residents, and the countless ways he has served Kentwood."

During his tenure as chief, Looman oversaw significant upgrades to the department, including the development of a new First Responder Training Facility designed to simulate real-life emergency scenarios for personnel.

Search for New Chief Begins

With the retirement announcement, the city has launched a search to find Looman's successor. City officials outlined what they are looking for in a replacement.

"The ideal candidate will be an accomplished fire service leader who is comfortable leading during major incidents, developing future leaders, managing budgets, navigating labor relations, and representing the department throughout the community," city officials said in a news release.

The city will begin its first review of resumes on Friday, September 25. Candidates interested in learning more about the position and applying are encouraged to visit the city's recruitment page.

The Kentwood Fire Department serves a population of approximately 51,000 residents in Kent County. Looman's departure marks the end of an era for the department after he followed in his father's footsteps into the fire service.