New fire chief in McKees Rocks

During a board meeting Dec. 16, the McKees Rocks Volunteer Fire Department appointed Donald Baird as its new chief beginning Jan. 1 2021.

Baird will replace Nick Radoycis, who has served as the department’s chief for the majority of the company’s 37-year tenure.

Baird said his appointment was part-anticipated, part-spontaneous.

“The department felt we could use a little bit of change and we went from there,” he said.

Radoycis declined to comment on the move.

Baird, an IT professional who resides in Kennedy, currently serves as a first lieutenant.

He has 14 years’ combined experience as a volunteer at the McKees Rocks and Kennedy department.