The City of Overland Park celebrated Fire Chief Bryan Dehner and his 29 years of service at a reception in his honor on Friday, March 31. Throughout his years leading the Overland Park Fire Department, Chief Dehner created a culture of innovation with a primary focus on the safety of his staff and all those who live and work in Overland Park.
Over the course of nearly three decades, Chief Dehner has overseen successful mergers, including integrating the Merriam Fire Department into the Overland Park Fire Department in 2015 and merging with Johnson County Fire District No. 2 in 2021, expanding service coverage in Overland Park and Johnson County.
In 2017, Dehner commanded the response to the largest fire in City history, resulting in no loss of life. When a high-need area was identified in Nall Hills, Dehner stationed Squad 47 to operate out of a house in the neighborhood to enhance emergency response in the area.
With the future of fire safety in mind, Chief Dehner led a partnership with the Blue Valley School District to establish a fire science program in exchange for land to build a new fire station. The fire science program offers high school students the opportunity to learn concepts and skills needed to pursue a career as a firefighter.
The City is grateful for Chief Dehner’s years of service and forward-thinking leadership, keeping the community safe for the last 29 years and ensuring its safety for many years to come.
