While the Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the District’s operations, the Administration Division is charged with managing its daily operations. The Division includes the Fire Chief, the Deputy Chief of Operations, and the Deputy Chief of Support Services.

These three chiefs supervise other officers, firemedics, and staff responsible for specific areas of the District’s daily operations. In addition to that supervision, some of the other functions of the Division include budgeting, personnel management, staff development, intergovernmental relations, and public affairs. The three administrative chiefs also respond to local and mutual aid calls to provide command support during emergency operations.

Administrative Chiefs

Chuck Smith


Fire Chief

Serving Since 1997 Fire Officer 2/Paramedic BS Fire Service Management, Southern Illinois University AAS Fire Science Technology, College of Lake County Blue Card Command Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Prevention Officer 1 Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist Diver Sonar Technician Wildland Firefighter Lake & McHenry County Fire Departments Sonar Team Lake & McHenry County Fire Departments Wildland Team Member, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association Member, Lake County Fire Chiefs A

Ed Heinz


Deputy Chief - Support Services

Serving Since 2000 Fire Officer 2/Paramedic AAS Fire Science Blue Card Command Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Department Health & Safety Officer Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Hazmat Technician Wildland Firefighter Emergency Operations Planning Health & Safety Officer Lake & McHenry County Fire Departments Hazmat Team

Ron Echtenacher


Deputy Chief - Operations/Training & Safety

Serving Since 2003 Fire Officer 2/Paramedic BS Fire Service Management AS Fire Science Blue Card Command Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Prevention Officer 1 Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Technical Rescue Tech Training Program Manager Member, Illinois Society of Fire Service Instructors Shift Training Paid-on-Premise Program Lake & McHenry County Fire Departments Technical Rescue Team