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Buffalo Grove names deputy chief as interim fire chief

William "Mike" Baker was introduced as Buffalo Grove's interim fire chief at this week's board meeting by Village Manager Dane Bragg. Baker, who had been deputy chief, takes over in the wake of Terry Vavra's retirement.

Baker previously worked for the Elgin Fire Department for 27 years, retiring as an assistant chief. He also worked as interim deputy chief duties in Streamwood.

And as an instructor for the Elgin Regional Fire Academy, which trains more than 80 different departments throughout Northern Illinois, he had plenty of contact with Buffalo Grove's firefighters, ranking them within the top 10 percent seen at the academy.

Baker was hired by the Elgin Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic in 1985. He was American Legion Firefighter of the Year in 1989 and won the EMS Leadership Award in 2006.

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