Kraule, who began leading the fire district in May 1974, recently announced that his time as chief would end Feb. 1 and that he would embark on a new role as the district's liaison for construction of the fire station. Replacing Kraule as fire chief is Gordon Duncan, who was brought in 1¹/2 years ago and served as the assistant chief.

"It's time to change and take up a new challenge. I think it's a healthy approach," Kraule said, noting that this is not the time to feel sad.

Born in San Francisco and raised in Saratoga, Kraule became interested in fire service while in his teens. At age 21, he began volunteering for the Saratoga Fire District. In his earlier days, he spent some time working in a jewelry company owned by his family. It was there that he acquired the skills necessary for management and where he discovered a strong interest in working with people, he said.

Working his way up the ranks before becoming part-time chief in 1969 and full-time chief in 1974, Kraule has remained in the "unique community" of Saratoga because this is where he wants to put his energy, he said.

During the nearly three decades that he served as chief, Kraule transformed the fire department from one that was mostly staffed by volunteer firefighters to an organization that has approximately doubled in size to 29 employees, most of whom are paid. The department also places more emphasis on medical emergencies today than it has in the past, according to Kraule.

Kraule also spent his years as fire chief helping to develop city codes and ordinances related to fire safety and prevention, and he twice served as president of the Santa Clara County Fire Chiefs Association.

Kept busy in his professional career, Kraule has always relished spending his personal time flying a plane, said longtime friend Robert Egan, chair of the Saratoga Fire District board of commissioners. Egan, who has known Kraule for nearly 40 years, recalls an incident about 25 years ago when Kraule left the fire chief's car at the airport and went off to fly his private plane. Upon returning, Kraule found that another pilot had accidentally landed on top of the car, which by that point was completely wrecked and had to be replaced.

Egan describes Kraule as one of the most "technically savvy" fire chiefs ever to put out a fire while out on the field.

"He would get in the middle of fires; he would get in as dirty as everybody else," Egan said.

While those firefighting days are over, Kraule is looking forward to his new role as a part-time district liaison to the community. He is determined to see the construction of the new fire station through to completion. Kraule has remained on the project for the past eight years, from when it was first conceived and on through times of opposition by residents until the city council approved the proposal in November 2002.

"The community needs a new fire station. The community's going to get a new fire station," he said. "That's my promise to the community."

As the fire department undergoes reorganization, Kraule noted that he feels "very comfortable" with the change in leadership.

With his "hometown approach and foresight, my successor is a perfect replacement for this department," Kraule said of Duncan. "I'm very proud and pleased he's taking over."

Duncan noted that Kraule never tried to resume responsibilities that had been handed over to him over the past 1¹/2 years as the department prepared for the change in leadership.

"He always allowed me the freedom to do what needed to be done. He's not the type of person that had to have ownership over anything," Duncan said.

"I've had a chance to talk to a chief who understands what it takes to run a fire department from the employee's point of view. [Chief Kraule] has always kept the employees in mind," Duncan further noted.

The department will hold a ceremony recognizing Duncan as the new fire chief on Feb. 11. Another formal event in honor of Kraule is expected to take place in April or May.