Excerpts from the State-Journal register.com:

Capt. Allen Reyne, a nearly 19-year veteran of the Springfield Fire Department, will be the city’s next fire chief. Reyne, 47, a captain since 2009, will replace Barry Helmerichs, who is retiring April 6.  Starting April 7, Reyne will be acting fire chief until the Springfield City Council can vote on his appointment April 17. His salary has not yet been decided.

Eight candidates within the fire department were interviewed for the position. Reyne, a Springfield resident, was the firefighters’ union president for two years starting in 2012 and has served as its secretary.

Reyne is certified to be a fire investigator at the state and international level, as well as a paramedic. He also holds certifications in hazardous waste operations, fire service management and fire service instruction. Before joining the Springfield Fire Department in 1999, he was a volunteer firefighter for the Godfrey Fire Protection District and a paramedic in St. Louis County and Springfield.

At Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, the mayor honored Helmerichs with a proclamation and named that day Fire Chief Barry Helmerichs Day. He listed some of Helmerichs’ accomplishments, including raising the department’s Insurance Services Office rating from Class 3 to Class 1. Helmerichs also emphasized advanced medical training for firefighters and improved response times.

thanks Dan

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