Storm Lake’s fire chief has stepped down after less than a year on the job.
City officials say Terence Sinner resigned effective immediately on July 3, notifying the city through a brief letter with no stated reason for his departure.
Sinner was hired last fall to take over for former Chief Glenn Schlesser following a nationwide search. He brought more than 30 years of fire service experience, including roles as division chief and fire marshal in Stevens Point, Wis.; fire inspector in Casa Grande, Ariz.; and two decades in federal civil service with the U.S. Department of Defense, including a role as battalion chief. His career began in the U.S. Air Force, with deployments to Romania and Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
City Communications Coordinator Dana Larsen says the resignation came without warning.
Sinner had been with the fire department for just over eight months. Assistant Fire Chief Blake Severson is now serving as interim fire chief while the city evaluates its next steps.
Larsen says the city is taking time to review the department’s structure before deciding how to fill the chief position.
He says there is no timeline yet for naming a permanent replacement.
Larsen says the city’s focus now is ensuring stability within the department and supporting both Sinner and the firefighters during the transition.
The city expects to announce next steps once its internal review is complete.
