KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) - Killeen Fire Chief James Kubinski sat down for his first interview since announcing he is leaving the department to take the top fire chief position in Grand Prairie.

Kubinski accepted the role of Killeen fire chief six years ago.

He spent more than two decades moving up the fire service ranks in Illinois before coming to Killeen in 2021."Started with Stone Park Fire Department, which no longer exists. Ended up being a contract firefighter paramedic with Lincolnwood Illinois and ultimately landing in Naperville. There were a couple part-time departments along the way as well because you do what you got to do to make ends meet to support a family," Kubinski said.