SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) Sioux Falls Fire Rescue Chief Jim Sideras is stepping down after nearly 34 years serving the city.
At his Tuesday announcement, Chief Sideras said he is leaving to become Executive Director of the South Dakota Healthcare Association. He's sure Fire Rescue won't miss a beat without him.
"The team that we have is amazing. They can handle any challenge and they have...They don't need me. They can work through anything," said Sideras.
Sideras talked about some of the biggest accomplishments during his time in charge of the department.
"We went three years without a fire fatality, which is unheard of for our city. We did that. We have some of the highest cardiac arrest survival rates in the country and that speaks well to the level of service we are providing our patients." Sideras also is proud that Fire Rescue is now ISO Class 1, the only department with such a high standard of professionalism in the upper Midwest.
Sideras is planning to leave the end of June. Mayor Mike Huether is hoping to hire from within, but it's a tough act to follow.
"So mayor, what are the plans now? How do you replace someone with 33 years of spit and vigor and fire and leadership?"
Sideras began his career with the Fire Department in 1983. In 2011, he was promoted to chief.