New fire chief is eager to lead

Former volunteer with 32 years experience is city’s first full-time chief

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff Writer

For new City of Burlington Fire Chief Perry Howard, coming to Burlington is, in a sense, returning to his roots.

Through a friend with a farm on the outskirts of town – and weekly Friday excursions on his Harley Davidson with his wife for a fish fry – Howard has come to know Burlington. And in many ways, it reminds him of the first town he fought fires in – Greyslake, Ill.

“What I found recently, just driving around town, people will wave to you,” Howard said. “It’s a different walk of life.

“They’re nice. They wave, they say hi to you, which is different from what you see in a larger city,” he added. “Very friendly atmosphere.”

Now Howard is set to become a part of that atmosphere. He began his job as the first full-time police chief of the City of Burlington June 3, and he’s thrilled with what he’s seen so far.

“I’m excited, very excited about the opportunity,” Howard said. “There’s an outstanding group of employees, of volunteers there.

“I’ve had the opportunity to participate in some of the trainings they’ve had there,” he added. “I’m pleasantly surprised to see the level of excitement.

“The way they work together is exceptional.”

Howard was the final selection from a pool of about 40 applicants, and is a 32-year veteran firefighter. In addition to his time at Grayslake – where he was a volunteer, then a paid on-call and finally one of the department’s first full-time paid firefighters – he has also most recently served as an assistant fire chief with the Beach Park Illinois Fire Protection District and a lieutenant with the Arlington Heights, Ill. Fire department.

He holds a master’s of business administration and human resource management from the Keller Graduate School of Management, and a bachelor’s degree in fire science management from Southern Illinois University.

He is also a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy.

All of those degrees aside, Howard admitted the city’s two-day assessment was challenging.

“It was a pretty intensive two days,” Howard said. “Very extensive. But I felt confident throughout the process. I had an opportunity to meet several individuals.

“I had a good feel,” he added. “You could tell that everything about them was professional.”

Since starting the job, Howard has spent most of his time in the City of Burlington, working 12 to 14 hour days.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far,” said Howard.

Next on the list of goals is to find a home in Burlington. He’s hopeful he and his wife will be able to move to the City sometime in the next few months, but definitely before the end of the year.

The couple has four children – one a full-time firefighter.

“He went into the military, and he wanted to be a police officer,” explained Howard about his eldest. “After doing that for four years, I think he really wanted to try something else.”

Howard, meanwhile, is planning on being in Burlington for the long haul.

“I think my job is to provide some leadership to this organization, some skill I have acquired over the years,” he said. “I want to transfer that to not only the full-time employees, but the volunteers.”