News release from City of Springfield issued Friday 9/4/15:
Springfield, Illinois – Mayor Jim Langfelder announced today Robert “Barry” Helmerichs as the new Chief for the Springfield Fire Department.
Helmerichs joined the Springfield Fire Department in 1991 and served as a firefighter, driver-engineer, captain, deputy chief of technical services, and division chief in addition to serving as a faculty member with the fire science program at Lincoln Land Community College. He was appointed Fire Chief in 2010 under then-Mayor Tim Davlin.
“Chief Helmerichs was previously appointed during one of the hardest times possible in this community due to numerous staff vacancies in his department and the city’s overall financial challenges,” stated Mayor Langfelder. “In his brief tenure, he had to make tough decisions. His experience, along with his ability to do what is right for the department makes him the best choice to move the fire department forward.”
Helmerichs is replacing Chief Ken Fustin who retired June 1. Mark Hart was serving as interim Fire Chief. The Mayor continued, “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Deputy Chief Mark Hart for his service during this interim time. I appreciate him taking on this important responsibility, ensuring our fire department continued moving forward during this transition.”
Helmerichs served as a member of the SFD Technical Rescue Team; on the Foreign Fire Insurance Board serving both as secretary and chairman; instructor for the Springfield Fire Department rookie classes; member of the National Fire Advisory Board for New World Systems; and as a department representative for the Sangamon County E911 Integration committee.
The selection process involved a review panel consisting of community members who had backgrounds in management, HR or working relationships with the fire department. The seven applicants were interviewed by the panel, four moved on to a second round of interviews with the Mayor. The Mayor then did follow-up interviews with the three finalists.
“All the finalists were top-notch representatives of the fire department and that gives me great confidence in the direction we need to go,” concluded Mayor Langfelder. “I’m looking forward to working with Chief Helmerichs and the entire Springfield Fire Department in keeping our community safe.”
