Oak Creek Names Gary Gula New Fire Chief

Oak Creek is betting its public safety future on a man who grew up digging coal in Illinois.

It’s not the most obvious choice for a high-altitude Western Slope town known for its wildland fire risks and tight-knit community feel. You’d expect a chief who’s spent decades breathing the dry air of the Rockies, maybe someone who’s already got a trail map memorized. Instead, the district is bringing in Gary Gula, a 30-year fire veteran from the flatlands of Illinois, to lead the charge.

The decision isn’t just about filling a vacancy. It’s about closing a chapter that’s been open for nearly a year. Former Fire Chief Brady Glauthier resigned after being placed on administrative leave, leaving the district in limbo. Interim Fire Chief Kenyon Shephard held the fort down during the search, but Oak Creek needed a permanent face for the next decade.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome a leader with Chief Gula’s experience and integrity to Oak Creek and South Routt County,” said Skyler McKinley, the district’s vice president. “Together, we’re going to work to set a national standard for wildland fighting and community trust.”

That’s a big promise for a district of this size. Setting a "national standard" implies a level of prestige and operational excellence that usually takes years to build. McKinley believes Gula is the vehicle to get there.

Gula isn’t a rookie. He started in 1989 as a firefighter with the Champaign Fire Department in Illinois. He climbed the ladder — engineer, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief of training — and by late 2023, he was serving as interim fire chief elsewhere. He also spent nearly 30 years teaching at the Illinois Fire Service Institute, training firefighters in basic skills and specialized response.

Why leave Illinois for Oak Creek? Gula says it’s about the vibe.

“I grew up in a blue-collar Illinois coal town and has long felt most comfortable in places with a strong local identity,” Gula said during a town hall forum in mid-April. “Oak Creek... reminded me of the kinds of communities I have lived and worked in throughout my career.”

It’s a human angle that matters. This isn’t just a job transfer for Gula; it’s a return to a type of community structure he understands. He’s not coming in as an outsider trying to impose a big-city system. He’s coming in as someone who thinks he already speaks the language of small-town emergency services.

The transition has been smooth, largely thanks to the team that kept the lights on while the search committee looked. Gula took time to thank Captain Kenyon Shephard, Captain Bob Reilley, Battalion Chief John Fretwell, and Administrator Karrie Littman for their leadership.

“A special thank you... for their leadership in getting us here,” Gula said. “It’s a privilege to serve you.”

Now, the work starts. Gula officially accepted the formal offer on Tuesday and will begin his duties by July 1. The district announced the search in February, held the town hall in April, and moved quickly to lock in their choice. The question is whether Gula’s Illinois-heavy resume translates perfectly to the specific wildland challenges of the Stagecoach area and the broader Oak Creek valley.

He’s promising transparency and a focus on firefighter safety. He’s promising to advance emergency medical services and community risk reduction. But the real test will be in the smoke.

“To the residents of Oak Creek and the Stagecoach area, I want you to know that my door is always open,” Gula wrote in a statement. “Building trust, strengthening partnerships, and serving this community with excellence will be at the heart of everything we do.”

Trust is the currency of emergency services. In a town where everyone knows your name, and where a wildfire can cut off the main artery of the valley, that trust has to be earned daily. Gula has the experience. He has the backing of the district leadership. Now he just has to prove that a guy from a coal town can handle the heat here.