The city of Prescott has named an acting fire chief. He will replace the leader whose departure was announced after the release of a report on the Yarnell Hill Fire. Division Chief Eric Kriwer will take over as interim chief after Dan Fraijo steps down on Nov. 15. Fraijo was in charge when 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew died on June 30.
Last week, Fraijo announced he was leaving his post, just a few days after a report on the tragedy came out. It recommended potential improvements to wildland firefighting, but did not find any serious errors.
Fraijo has told the Prescott Daily Courier the city asked him to step down after the report’s release, though a city official disputed that.
Acting Chief Kriwer has previously worked in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills and has been with Prescott for seven years. He will serve until the city finds and hires a permanent chief.