The Cottage Grove City Council appointed Jon Pritchard to be the city’s next fire chief at the Nov. 15 council meeting. The current chief, Rick Redenius, announced he will be retiring after 11 years as chief and nearly 35 years with the department. Redenius will complete his service on Dec. 29, and Pritchard, currently deputy chief with the fire department, will officially step into the role for the city on Dec. 30.

Pritchard, 41, brings 18 years of fire and EMS experience to the position, and has been deputy chief with the Cottage Grove Fire Department (CGFD) for the last four years. Prior to working full-time with CGFD, he held positions as a paid on-call and part-time firefighter, career chief officer, part-time district chief with the White Bear Lake Fire Department, and as a nurse supervisor with Regions Hospital’s Emergency.

Pritchard has multiple fire service certifications, including Fire Officer II and Fire Instructor III, as well as nursing and medical certifications, including Certified Community Paramedic. He received a Master of Nursing degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and History from the University of Minnesota, and also holds associate degrees in fire science and emergency management, from Hennepin Technical College and Frederick, Md. Community College, respectively.

He looks to bring his unique experience and leadership to the new position, and says he will strive to provide “exceptional emergency services to the community” as the new fire chief of Cottage Grove.

Pritchard resides in Cottage Grove with his son Andrew. Focusing on health and wellness at home and at work, he enjoys baseball, running, and biking, as well building Lego projects with his son and serving as a Boy Scout Troop Leader and Merit Badge Counselor.