Long Grove Fire Protection District names new fire chief
The Long Grove Fire Protection District is pleased to announce the hiring of Paul Segalla as fire chief, effective Nov. 15.
Chief Segalla brings experience from an extensive fire service career and was selected after a comprehensive nationwide search.
"We are proud to announce the appointment of Paul Segalla as fire chief," said LGFPD board of trustees President Kristen Linnenburger. "Chief Segalla has held nearly every rank in the fire service and has a proven track record of performance, budget management and leadership. We are very pleased with this addition and look forward to many years working together for success and growth in the district."
Segalla's fire career includes serving in Illinois for the Downers Grove Fire Department, Aurora Fire Department and Lockport Township Fire District and, in more recent years, serving as fire chief in the Los Angeles area for the city of West Covina, the Chino Valley Fire District and the Upland-Montclair Fire Department.
Segalla earned a bachelor's degree in fire administration from Western Illinois University and a master's degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University. He has also completed the rigorous Executive Fire Officer course through the National Fire Academy.
Recruitment for the fire chief position was conducted by the Illinois Fire Chief's Association Professional Evaluation and Assessment Service and yielded 24 applicants. The search and evaluation process was complex and collaborative, encompassing interviews by phone, video conferencing and in person; a comprehensive Assessment Center; and presentations by the top five applicants.
At the conclusion of this process, Chief Segalla was identified as the unanimous choice by the Long Grove Fire Protection District board of trustees.
"I am extremely thankful to the board of trustees for their support and decision," said Chief Segalla.
"I am very fortunate and grateful to have the opportunity to serve as the next fire chief of the Long Grove Fire Protection District. I am excited to join a team of well-trained and dedicated personnel who provide outstanding service in a professional manner."
The LGFPD has been operating under Interim Fire Chief David Riddle since March 2021.
"I am confident that the assessment process utilized through the Illinois Fire Chief's yielded highly qualified candidates, and this allowed the board to find the right fit for Long Grove Fire," said Chief Riddle.
"I am equally confident that the new fire chief has the right combination of skills and experience to effectively lead Long Grove Fire in its mission to serve the community with care and compassion."
"We extend a warm welcome to Chief Segalla and his family," Linnenburger said. "We are so very happy to have him on board and look forward to his leadership in the fire service.
"He is a great fit for our community and we look forward to introducing him to our neighbors and the residents of Long Grove. We are confident he will continue the honored tradition of running a prepared, professional and compassionate fire department."
The Long Grove Fire Protection District covers approximately 14 square miles with 12,000 residents in southern Lake and northern Cook Counties of Illinois. The area covered includes portions of five villages and three townships. The department is a combination of full-time sworn members and permanent paid-on-premise members.
For information, visit www.lgfpd.org or contact dkauffman@lgfpd.org.
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