Incoming Algonquin-Lake in the Hills fire chief faces new challenges

Kevin Rynders has a difficult job ahead of him once he takes over the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District in May.

Pointing to the rise in health insurance, coupled with the decline in property values and real estate taxes that support the fire district, Rynders, now assistant chief of operations, says he has no major upheavals planned.

That's because the challenge, maintaining the same level of service with the economic downturn, will take precedence over everything else.

"I think we have to hold the line here on any changes and kind of weather the storm," Rynders said.

Rynders, who will be making $110,000 a year in his new post, will instead turn his attention to growth in the district and to his relatively young staff - the district has only had full-time firefighters for seven years.

"It's exciting times," he said. "I hope that I can bring some of my experiences and some of my knowledge here to Algonquin and basically just take something that's already good, make it a little better."

Rynders, 51, will become fire chief on May 1 and oversee a staff of 42 full-time firefighters and officers, 20 part-time firefighters and four administrators.

He replaces Steve Guetschow, who has announced his intent to retire at the end of April. He has been chief since 2003.

The two are no strangers. Guetschow was a year behind Rynders at what was once Dundee High School.

Guetschow lives in Carpentersville with his wife, Diane, and they plan to relocate to Florida after his retirement.

"I had a time frame in my head that once I reach 50, I'd retire from the fire service," said Guetschow, who turns 50 in March. "I had some heart surgery about five years ago and it put a little different perspective on things."

Rynders, 51, lives in West Dundee, where he started his fire service career.

He joined that fire district one week out of high school in 1975 as a volunteer firefighter, "back in the days when you got $1.50 a call," he joked.

He remained with West Dundee on a part-time basis, while fighting fires in Hoffman Estates for 28 years.

He left West Dundee in 2004 to become fire chief in Hoffman Estates, retiring from that post in 2008, with a $125,000 annual salary.

So what brings him to the Fox Valley?

The chance to bring his city experience to a quaint village.

"Algonquin here is a little bit smaller department, but it's busy and growing and it's a challenge to go from a big city to a small town," he said.