Left, Fire Chief Tracey Kujawa with Assistant Chief Bob Finn share a laugh during a training exercise in summer 2013. (City-Times photo)

By Patrick Lynn

Stevens Point Fire Chief Tracey Kujawa said she’ll likely know soon whether she’s going to be the new Wausau Fire Chief.

Kujawa, who’s been listed as one of three finalists for the job, has already undergone a series of interviews and background checks. She said she had her final interview Thursday.

Kujawa has been with the SPFD for 22 years and has been chief for 2 1/2. She said when she was first asked to apply for the top spot in Wausau, she declined.

“I deleted the email, to be honest,” Kujawa said in March when news broke that she had been considering the move.  “As I thought about it more and more, I’ve been here 22 years- if there was an opportunity available I’d be negligent in my personal goals if I didn’t go about taking steps to apply and go through the process.”

Kujawa said at last week’s Police & Fire Commission meeting she expects to have an answer within the next week or so.

“It seems like they’re going to want to move quickly on this,” Kujawa said. If she’s ultimately offered the job, Kujawa said she could leave the Stevens Point Fire Department as soon as May 1.