Excerpts from theDailyHerald.com:
A change is coming for Countryside Fire Protection District Fire Chief Jeff Steingart, who recognized his life’s dream as a boy and stayed with it until retiring last week. Steingart, 55, started with Countryside as a paid-on-call firefighter in 1982 and was hired as a full-time firemedic in January 1986. He steadily advanced, serving as a lieutenant and fire prevention bureau director, captain and shift commander, and assistant and deputy chief before being named to the top spot in 2006.
Last week was Steingart’s last in the office. A Change in Command ceremony with a traditional fire department walk-out is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, at district headquarters, 600 N. Deerpath Drive, Vernon Hills. Deputy Chief Chuck Smith will be sworn in as the new chief.
Steingart grew up in Hawthorn Woods and became a Mundelein Fire Department Explorer at 13. After graduating from Stevenson High School in 1981, he took an EMT class, worked for a private ambulance company, and then the Highwood Fire Department before joining Countryside full-time.
Countryside covers 24 square miles, including portions of Vernon Hills, Hawthorn Woods, Long Grove, Kildeer, Indian Creek and unincorporated Lake County. Activity has increased significantly since 1982 when Countryside personnel responded to 1,391 calls. Last year, the total was 4,918.
Steingart’s resume includes dozens of awards, recognitions, certifications, and affiliations. He has been a member of the MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) Division 4 all-hazards incident management team since 2014 and president since 2016.
He is proud of Countryside’s ISO rating improving from Class 5 to just shy of Class 1, and the department’s recent reaccreditation by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International for a fifth consecutive year.
A 30-year resident of Vernon Hills, Steingart plans to stay put and will remain involved in the fire service. He’s been hired as director of strategic planning and administration for the Wauconda Fire Protection District, a part-time civilian position.
