Mt. Prospect welcomes new deputy fire chief

Mount Prospect officially welcomed its new deputy fire chief Tuesday night.

Brian Lambel was sworn in, replacing Henry Dawson, a 30-year veteran of the department who had been serving for the last two years as deputy chief.

Lambel has been a member of the Mount Prospect Fire Department since 2000 - 10 years as a firefighter/paramedic, three years as a lieutenant and two years as battalion chief. Prior, was a firefighter/paramedic with the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District for 10 years.

Lambel has been the team leader of the Mount Prospect Technical Rescue Team and as a Rescue Squad Officer for the Illinois Urban Search and Rescue Team. he is expected to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science Administration this July.

"(He) has done an outstanding job with us in various levels of the department," Fire Chief John Malcolm told the crowd overflowing with firefighters, friends and family.

As deputy chief, Lambel is responsible for the overall operation and coordination of the fire suppression, emergency medical services, and special teams. He will work closely with fire Chief John Malcolm in the overall management of the department, and Malcolm said Lambel is involved with committees in the department's MABAS division and training officer division.

After being sworn in, Lambel thanked, among others, his "firefighter family that have gathered over the years, over half my life, that I have been in the fire service."

Mayor Arlene Juracek, noting the crowd, said, "We really have a family team here in our police and fire, and it clearly shows tonight."