Niles Fire Department Chief Steps Down After Over 38 Years Of Service

NILES, IL — After nearly four decades with the Niles Fire Department, Chief Marty Feld will retire at the end of the month, capping a career that has spanned over 30 percent of Niles' history.

Mayor George Alpogianis described Feld as a "one-of-a-kind" asset to his native village.

"His accomplishments speak for themselves, as does his critical role in guiding the Village through the COVID-19 pandemic," Alpogianis said. "He was also born and raised in Niles, and has given so much back to the community both through his family business in Niles and as a first responder."

Feld was promoted to lieutenant in 1996, serving as the department's paramedic coordinator for the next nine years. After he was promoted to the rank of district chief in 2005, he developed training programs still in use today and created a return-to-work initiative for firefighters after extended leave, according to village staff.

As chief, Feld focused on efficiency and fiscal responsibility, securing $1.9 million in grants to bolster department resources and joining the Ground Emergency Medical Transport program to get Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance service costs, village officials said. He was also credited with reorganizing the department into EMS, training and operations divisions, which improved its operational focus.

The chief launched public outreach initiatives, including annual open houses, fire extinguisher training and a smoke detector installation program responsible for installing over 1,500 detectors in local homes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he implemented new safety protocols, ensured the availability of protective equipment and secured more than $800,000 in reimbursements for pandemic-related expenses from Cook County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"Remarkably, despite the long list of professional achievements, he’ll be most missed for the personality and kindness he brought to the Village of Niles organization," Alpogianis said.

"Personable yet respectful, approachable and dignified, Marty made a positive impact on every room he entered," the mayor added. "You’d be hard pressed to find someone in the Village that doesn’t respond with a smile when you mention Marty Feld. All of us on the Village Board thank him for his many years of service. He will be greatly missed.”

Before taking the test to become a firefighter, Feld always believed he would pursue a career in propane sales, like his dad, he told the Niles Journal. But he ended up falling in love with the fire service.

“The different circumstances, you get to help people," Feld told the Journal. "It’s been an amazing experience.”

Feld has also secured funding to buy a tiller truck and fire engine set for delivery in 2028 and 2029 and overseen the initial stages of a planned new fire station, which village staff said has prepared the department for success in the future.