The Bartlett Fire Protection District has appointed Michael W. Falese as their new fire chief. Chief Falese has been the interim chief since Chief Kevin Heine retired in March. The Daily Herald has the following article in today’s paper.

Daily Herald photo

Bartlett’s interim fire chief becomes permanent

Bartlett officials have removed the “interim” from Interim Fire Chief Michael W. Falese’s title, naming the 27-year fire veteran and Elgin’s onetime chief to the department’s top post.

Falese, who had been interim chief since March 31, will be sworn in during a formal ceremony June 16 at the Bartlett Fire Protection District’s Station 3, in Bartlett. He replaces former chief Kevin Heine, who stepped down in March after 30 years with the district, including the last five as chief.

Falese, an Elgin resident, joined the department in September 2007 as assistant chief of operations.

Before that, he spent 24 years with the Elgin Fire Department, climbing the ranks from firefighter to chief, a job he held for about four years. He resigned as Elgin chief to take the Bartlett job.

Falese earned a Masters of Public Administration degree from Northern Illinois University in 2001 and his Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Management in 1997 from Southern Illinois University.

He currently is a director for the Illinois Fire Chief’s Association and is in the final steps of applying for his Chief Fire Officer designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

Tags: Bartlett, Falese, Heine