Mundelein finds new fire chief in Buffalo Grove

A year after longtime Mundelein Fire Chief Randy Justus announced his retirement, village leaders have found the man they want to lead the department.

Tim Sashko, Buffalo Grove's fire chief since 2002, was tapped to be Mundelein's top firefighter. A 14-year resident of Mundelein, he called the job an exciting opportunity for himself and his family.

"It feels good," Sashko, 48, said Tuesday. "It feels right."

Sashko was introduced as the new chief during Monday night's Mundelein village board meeting. He'll be sworn in Oct. 22 and start work the next day.

Sashko will replace interim Chief Craig Adams, who'll stay on as deputy chief.

Sashko, who was named Illinois Fire Chief of the Year by the state fire chiefs association last year, has spent his entire career in Buffalo Grove.

He joined the department in 1979 as a paid-on-call firefighter and became a full-time firefighter/paramedic in 1981. He rose through the ranks until being promoted to chief in May 2002.

"There's no question he's done an exemplary job," Buffalo Grove Village President Elliott Harstein said. "He's been a bedrock (of) the community and the department for many, many years."

In addition to the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, Sashko serves with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association, the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and the Lake County board of health.

Sashko also has been active in Mundelein community issues, serving as chairman of a group called Citizens United for Excellence that promoted a Mundelein High School financial plan last year.

"Tim obviously brings a leadership quality and a vision for where the fire department needs to be, based on where the community is going," Mundelein Village Administrator John Lobaito said.

The search to find a permanent replacement for Justus, who became Mundelein's chief in 1990, took longer than village leaders expected.

At one point, village leaders had their sights on another candidate, but that applicant withdrew from consideration when he was offered a promotion in his own department, officials said.

Sashko actually was part of the initial search team and said he didn't expect then that he'd eventually fill the vacancy. Leaving Buffalo Grove will be hard, he said.

"I wasn't looking for a job when this came along," he said.

Because of Sashko's community involvement and familiarity with Mundelein, Trustee Ray Semple is confident he's the right choice.

"He's a great guy," Semple said. "It really works out well."

Semple praised Adams for doing a "fabulous" job as interim chief. Thanks to Adams' leadership, the transition to a new chief will be seamless, he said.

Harstein was unsure when Buffalo Grove would name an interim fire chief.