Vicksburg Fire Chief Craig Danczyk retires

Many showed out for the retirement of Vicksburg Fire Chief Craig Danczyk. (Photo by David Day)

Vicksburg Fire Chief Craig Danczyk officially retired on Wednesday, marking the end of a 27-year career with the Vicksburg Fire Department.

(Left) Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs, Jr. honors Vicksburg Fire Chief Craig Danczyk (right) with a service plaque. (Photo by David Day)

Fire Chief Craig Danczyk joined the department on May 10, 1995. The vast knowledge and experience that he gained proved essential to running Vicksburg’s uniquely complex fire department. In addition to fire and rescue, VFD also provides ambulance services.

With one of the largest budgets inside city government, Danczyk was tasked with keeping a large fleet of expensive fire fighting apparatus, ambulances and rescue vehicles ready to respond, not only to the city but inside Warren County as well. Under Danczyk’s leadership, Station 3 on Berryman Road has been built and several new pieces of equipment have been purchased, including two new trucks unveiled a few weeks ago.

Along with serving the community of Vicksburg, Danczyk has worked to provide humanitarian aid to neighboring communities in times of need, such as the Hurricane Ida relief efforts. After Hurricane Ida, VFD assisted for months with sending manpower to support several areas in the Gulf.

(Left) Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace speaks on Vicksburg Fire Chief Craig Danczyk (right) – (Photo by David Day)

On Wednesday, over 100 gathered to support the Fire Chief’s retirement and celebrate his unwavering support for the community.

“There are so many people to thank. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen have been nothing but supportive,” said Dancyzk in an earlier interview. “There are the right people in place and it’s the right time for me to transition into private industry.”

Click for an in-depth look at the Chief’s career, told by Danczyk himself.