Buffalo Grove promotes new fire chief

Buffalo Grove's interim fire chief, William "Mike" Baker, has been promoted to fire chief, Village Manager Dane Bragg announced Thursday.

Baker has been interim chief of the department since February when former chief Terrence Vavra retired.

A reception to welcome Baker and recently appointed Trustee Joanne Johnson will be held at 7 p.m. July 6, immediately preceding the regularly scheduled village board meeting at Village Hall, 50 Raupp Blvd. Residents are invited to attend.

Baker will be sworn in at that meeting.

He has been with the Buffalo Grove department since 2013, when he was hired as deputy fire chief.

"Chief Baker has proved to be an exemplary leader over the past several months as interim fire chief," said Village Manager Dane Bragg. "He has shown a strong commitment to the mission and values of the village and led the department admirably during the transition. His focus on high quality fire and EMS services is excellent."

Baker has been in fire service for more than 36 years, including 30 years as a paramedic, eight years as an assistant chief with the Elgin Fire Department and 14 years as a fire instructor with the Elgin Regional Fire Academy.

In Elgin, Baker was Firefighter of The Year in 1989 and has received the Chief VandeVoorde award for EMS Excellence. He is also a 23-year senior adjunct faculty at Elgin Community College.

Baker graduated with academic honors from Northern Illinois University with a master's degree in public administration. He received the Chief Fire Officer designation by the Center for Public Safety Excellence and Executive Fire Officer designation from the National Fire Academy.