Command Officers

Chief Arney has been a member of the fire service since 1988.  He has served the Town of Burns Harbor for his entire career as a firefighter.

Chief Arney serves as a paid Chief and holds numerous certifications including EMT, Firefighter I/II, Instructor II/III, Inspector I, Fire Officer I, Strategy & Tactics, Hazmat Operations, Driver-Operator, C.E.V.O. Instructor, Dive Master, and remains as an active dive team member.

Following in the footsteps of his Grandfather and Father before him, Deputy Chief Wesley grew up in the fire service and started his career in 1988.  Rob came to Burns Harbor in the fall of 2011, serving as Firefighter.  He was promoted to Engineer in 2013, Lieutenant in 2014, Captain in 2015, Assistant Chief in 2016, and Deputy Chief in 2018.  He currently works for the Town of Burns Harbor and is a part-time instructor for the IDHS in the firefighter training program for district 1.  He is a certified Firefighter I/II, Fire Instructor I, Fire Officer I, Strategy & Tactics, and Driver-Operator Aerial.

Captain Valpatic has been in the fire service since 1994 and has served Burns Harbor since 2005.  He is also a full time firefighter with the neighboring town of Chesterton where he holds the rank of Engineer.  Captain Valpatic holds certifications as EMT, Firefighter I/II, Driver-Operator Aerial and Pumper, Instructor I, Strategy & Tactics, Hazmat Awareness and Operations, Technical Rescue Awareness, Safety Officer, Inspector I & II, and Motor Sports Emergency Response.