New fire chief leads five promotions in Hoffman Estates

Five months after the retirement of former Hoffman Estates fire chief Jeff Jorian, his old job is going to the deputy chief who's been leading the department ever since.

Twenty-eight-year veteran Patrick Fortunato's swearing-in as fire chief Monday triggered a chain reaction as four other department members also were promoted to a vacated position just above.

And so Richard Englund - who joined the department the same day as Fortunato - was named deputy chief, while Wayne Rothbauer became a battalion chief, Brian Raymond a captain and Alan O'Brien a lieutenant.

Since November, the five of them filling these positions on an acting basis has provided a fresh perspective in finding ways to tweak department operations for better efficiency, Fortunato said.

"The great part is we had such a great foundation already," he added. "Many people have asked me how it's going. My response is always, 'It's exciting!'"

Village Manager Jim Norris said he never looked outside the department for its new chief, feeling comfortable with Fortunato's people skills, technical knowledge and analytical strengths while watching how they've been applied these past five months.

"He took it as if he were chief and wasn't just acting as a caretaker," Norris said of Fortunato.

He added that the new chief's ability to recognize how the fire industry is changing and not simply rely on its traditions is exactly what the department needs today.

Fortunato said he always felt drawn to the fire service through his father, uncle and family friends, completing much of the training he would need while still in high school. Some of his original teachers attended his swearing-in.

While Jorian retired with a salary of $151,547, Fortunato starts his tenure as chief at $148,000.

With five people stepping up to positions previously held by others with greater seniority, the department is seeing an immediate savings of $13,000, Norris said.