Clay Township Trustee Sean O’Brien is pleased to announce Jaren Kilian will be the next Fire Chief of the Clay Fire Territory. Kilian has served in multiple roles at the department since being hired in 2005. He has been an integral part of Clay Fire’s leadership team since being promoted to his current rank of Assistant Chief of Administration in 2012. Chief Kilian’s appointment becomes effective February 20, 2024.
“It has been an absolute honor to serve the communities of Clay Fire for nearly 20 years. I thank Trustee O’Brien and the Clay Fire Territory Fire Commission for this tremendous opportunity to lead this outstanding worldclass organization,” said Kilian. “As a mission-focused servant leader, I understand the importance of working alongside the dedicated staff of professionals at Clay Fire to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. I look forward to continuing the deeply engrained commitment to excellence established by our retiring Fire Chief Timm Schabbel.”
Kilian has been a firefighter since 1999. He started his career in Colorado Springs, Colorado before moving to Indiana in late 2004. Prior to his appointment as the Assistant Chief of Administration in 2012, he functioned as the fire department’s first-ever Division Chief of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Kilian replaces Fire Chief Timm Schabbel who is retiring from Clay Fire after 35 years of service on February 19, 2024.
A graduate of Southern Illinois University, Kilian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Safety Management. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree. He holds a certificate in Executive Management from the University of Notre Dame, and he is a graduate of the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ (IAFC) Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI). Upon graduating from the Signature Leadership Program at Leadership South Bend / Mishawaka, Chief Kilian also served on the board of directors for the organization. He is designated as a Chief Fire Officer by the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).
“I want to thank Chief Schabbel for his vision, leadership, professionalism, and his significant contributions to our community. The communities supported by Clay Fire are better and safer places to visit, work, and live because of the Schabbels,” said Clay Township Trustee Sean O’Brien. “Our extensive and consensus-driven selection process revealed the depth of leadership talent within Clay Fire. With Jaren Kilian as our new Fire Chief, and an extraordinary team of 120 dedicated men and women serving our community, I am confident that the best days are yet to come for this world-class organization.”
Clay Fire operates out of five strategically located community-based fire stations distributed across Clay, German, and Harris Townships, as well as the Town of Roseland and the Town of Indian Village. The fire department celebrated its 75th year in 2023. Clay Fire has been internationally accredited since 2004, a distinction held by approximately 300 fire departments in the world, including three additional fire departments in Indiana: the Indianapolis Fire Department, the Carmel Fire Department, and the Grissom Airforce Base Fire Department.
