Westport Fire Chief Rob Yost Retires; Deputy Chief Kronick named New Chief

From First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker

Westport First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker announced today that she has accepted the retirement letter of Fire Chief Robert Yost, effective January 1, 2022. 

Ms. Tooker said, “The Town of Westport and its residents have been very fortunate to be the beneficiaries of Rob’s expertise and dedication throughout his 34 years. As Fire Chief, Rob has assured that our firefighters are appropriately recruited, trained, and equipped to serve in their roles of preventing and fighting fires and providing rescue services.  

"As the Emergency Management Director, Rob has been on the front lines in protecting all our residents.  On Rob’s watch, Westport has weathered some particularly devastating storms and tense situations. In addition, his attention to FEMA reimbursement regulations and opportunities has enabled many Westporters to receive federal financial assistance in repairing/replacing their storm damaged properties.

"On behalf of the residents of Westport, his fellow employees, and his firefighting colleagues, I am grateful for Rob’s longstanding, exemplary and dedicated service. I wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Chief Yost stated, “It has been an honor to serve the Town of Westport for the last 34 years, and a privilege to work with the finest Firefighters and coworkers in the State.  I look forward to enjoying a new chapter in my life and I will always hold the Westport Fire Department near and dear to my heart.”

Ms. Tooker continued, “I am very confident that the command of the Westport Fire Department will remain in capable hands. To that end, I am pleased to announce that Deputy Chief Michael Kronick will be promoted to Department Chief and Emergency Management Director upon Chief Yost’s retirement. Mike has the proven ability and expertise to seamlessly and effectively take over the role as Chief.  Like Chief Yost, Mike has a breadth of knowledge, skill and understanding that will ensure that the current high standards of safety and efficiency will be maintained in the Westport Fire Department.”

About Chief Robert Yost:

Chief Robert Yost began his career in the fire service in 1986 as a part-time firefighter for the Mansfield Volunteer Fire Co. while attending the University of Connecticut. After briefly working for Xerox Corp., he took a full-time position in Mansfield. He was sworn in as a Westport Firefighter in 1988. 

After becoming the department’s first Emergency Medical Service Instructor, he became a paramedic in 1995. In 2006, Rob was promoted to lieutenant. He was the Fire Department leader of the joint Fire and Police Dive Rescue Team. In 2009, he was promoted to Assistant Chief, and in 2011, was promoted to Assistant Chief Training Officer. Rob was appointed to the position of Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director in February 2017.

Rob also has a family background in firefighting. His father served as Fire Chief in Norwalk for two decades, and a photo of his grandfather, also a firefighter, sitting atop a Norwalk firetruck adorns his desk.

During his career with Westport Fire Department, he has obtained three Edmund Duffy Unit Citations, a John Gallagher Award for an Unusual Act of Valor, and a Certificate of Exemplary Police Action.  He is a member of the National Ski Patrol, the Connecticut Interstate Wildfire Crew, and the Connecticut West Incident Management Team. His other interests include skiing, bicycle riding, scuba diving, windsurfing and kiteboarding. He lives in Milford with his wife, Tina.    

About Deputy Chief Michael Kronick:

Deputy Chief Michael Kronick joined the Westport Fire Department in July of 1998. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in January of 2009. Mike was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief in October 2017. During his career with the Westport Fire Department, he has been awarded the Edmund Duffy Unit Citation, the Chief Shippey and the Argenio awards for service to the department. 

Mike serves on the Connecticut Incident Management Team and was instrumental in forming the Fairfield County Strike Team and Task Force system. He is a member of the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew and has been on several national wildfire deployments out West. 

Mike graduated from Fairfield High School in 1991 and has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut and a Masters in Fire Science from the University of New Haven. Mike lives in Stratford with his fiancé Beth and his two adorable little boys, Sullivan (2 years old) and Anderson (3 weeks old).