Buffalo Grove welcomes veteran firefighter Baker as new chief

Longtime firefighter William "Mike" Baker was sworn in as Buffalo Grove's new fire chief at this week's village board meeting.

Baker took the oath from village Trustee Steven Trilling, before thanking friends, family and former colleagues who attended a reception honoring him and newly appointed Trustee Joanne Johnson.

Baker joined the village fire department in 2013 as deputy chief, and has served as interim chief since Terrence Vavra retired in February.

"There is a concept in the fire service that I like to subscribe to," said Baker, who has 36 years of firefighting experience. "When you enter the fire service, it's all about you. I don't mean that as an egocentric kind of statement. As a firefighter, we try to learn the skills of our trade to the best of our ability."

That changes, he said, as a firefighter moves up the ranks.

"When you reach the rank of fire chief, quite honestly it is nothing about you, and it is absolutely everything about everybody else, as far as the level of public service that we provide (and) the safety and survival of our firefighters," he said.

Baker praised the dedication of the village's firefighters, and gave special thanks to two firefighters who attended Monday's ceremony: Bartlett Fire Protection District Chief Michael Falese and McHenry Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Rudy Horist.

"I have spent the vast majority of my 36 years in the fire service with these two guys and, quite honestly, I am a better person because of knowing them," he said.

Falese said Buffalo Grove is fortunate in its choice of Baker.

"He is a proven leader, a proven fire service executive," he said. "He understands the whole municipal (government) model outside of the fire department as well, which is crucial for a fire chief."