BOISE - A 17-year veteran of the Boise Fire Department is Mayor David Bieter's choice to head the department as its new chief.

Dennis L. Doan, a department captain who has served as a fire station commander since 2002, was named to replace long-time Fire Chief Renn Ross, who retired in December.

If confirmed by the Boise City Council at its regular meeting Tuesday, Doan would become chief effective Wednesday.

"Leading the fire department in a fast-growing city is tremendously challenging, and Dennis brings great amounts of enthusiasm and ground-level experience to the job," Mayor Bieter said. "The Boise Fire Department is rightly known as one of the most effective and efficient emergency response agencies in the West, and I'm confident that Chief Doan will help advance the department to new levels of excellence."

Mayor Bieter selected Doan at the conclusion of an internal department screening process. The process included an advisory committee made up of representatives of the city council, other city departments and fire department staff.

"I'm pleased that we were able to find so much talent and potential within the ranks of the Boise Fire Department," said Council Member Vern Bisterfeldt, a former police officer and current council liaison to the fire department. "And I think Mayor Bieter made a good choice for the new fire chief without having to look outside."

Doan joined the department as an entry-level firefighter in 1991. He advanced to the rank of senior firefighter in 1995 before his promotion to captain in 2002. In the latter capacity, he has been responsible for fire station administration, budgeting and supervision, command of fire and emergency calls, training and discipline of personnel; and public relations and outreach.

He is the former president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Idaho (PFFI), founder and past chairman of the PFFI Fallen Firefighters Memorial, and Boise City/IAFF Local 149 Firefighter of the Year in 2003. Outside of his professional duties, Doan serves as student ministries pastor at New Heights Christian Fellowship, where he leads a staff of 21 volunteers and more than 100 students.