Former chief back in the fire

Former Elgin Fire Chief Jack Henrici is getting his old job back after all.

Henrici, who has been working as the city's interim director of fire and emergency services, was named the city's permanent fire chief on Monday.

It's a job he previously held from 1986 until his retirement in 2003.

"We have the utmost confidence in Jack," City Manager Femi Folarin said in a prepared statement. "In his short tenure as interim director, he has successfully negotiated and settled a contract with the firefighters union. He is a professional who brings a great sense of stability to the department."

Henrici, 69, is a 46-year veteran of the fire service.

He was named interim director in August after then-Fire Chief Mike Falese resigned to take an assistant chief's position in Bartlett.

The move was something of a role-reversal for the two men. Falese had served as the city's fire chief since Henrici's retirement in 2003.

"This has been like coming home," Henrici said in a prepared statement. "I'm thrilled to be back on a more permanent basis."

Since his retirement in 2003, Henrici has served as interim fire director in several cities, most recently in the Homewood area.

He will make $142,050 as Elgin's fire chief -- the same salary Falese was receiving before he left, city officials said.

As the department's interim director, Henrici was on a 90-day contract worth about $37,000.