By David A. F. Sweet After a nearly 30-year run, Lake Forest Fire Department Chief Pete Siebert will retire on Jan. 3. Deputy Chief Andy Rick will be promoted to Siebert's position and start on Jan. 6. He started attending fire science classes in 1991 when he was living in California. He soon completed a fire science program at a community college in the state. In 1996, the Lake Forest Fire Department offered the Illinois native a full-time position. Siebert talked with Lake Forest Love about why the fire department stands out, the technological changes he’s seen over the decades and more. What has made the past 28 years at the department special for you?
I never had any preconceived notions about where I would end up. I took every educational opportunity that was offered and simply tried to be the best I could be at every level. I never felt I was owed anything and tried to let my work ethic and dedication to the job speak for itself when promotional opportunities came up.
"We have a great group of people who truly care about the people they serve," says Fire Chief Pete Siebert.
I feel like I packed in a lot of experiences over the years and got to work with some incredibly talented people.
What stories can you share about the impact the department has had on you and on the community?
The department has had a huge impact on my life. The department’s commitment to education and training allowed me to obtain an associate’s degree from CLC, a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University and complete the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy in Maryland. I was also able to attend numerous specialized fire training courses and technical rescue courses. The educational and training opportunities kept me busy and engaged throughout my career. I am very thankful for the opportunities. I think the department has had a great impact on the community as well. The department continues to rise to every challenge we face and deliver the best service possible to the residents of Lake Forest. What makes the LF Fire Department stand out?
The people that make up the department. I have seen so many of our staff consistently go above and beyond to help people -- at what is most times the worst day of their lives. We have a great group of people who truly care about the people they serve. I regularly receive letters from residents praising our people for helping them in their time of need. It gives me a great sense of pride when I receive these letters and tells me we are making a difference in people’s lives.
What changes have you seen on the technology side since you started? When I started in 1996, we still used a daily logbook to record emergency calls, training, inspections and the like. We only had a few computers when I started and had just got Firehouse software, which was a records management software.
"My goal has always been to leave the department better than I found it," Siebert says.
The change in technology from 1996 to 2024 is remarkable; we went from one computer in the station to one on every desk and iPads in every vehicle. We now have fire engines that use a touch-screen computer to operate the pump panel, we have computer-aided dispatch with TV screens tied to station alerting systems to notify us of calls, we have cardiac monitors that send information to the hospital and battery-operated cots and power loading systems for the ambulance. All of the advancements in technology are great, but at the end of the day, we still need people to do the job and interact with the technology. Why are you excited about the future of the department?
We have a lot of new people -- over half of the department has less than eight years on the job -- and we have a lot of new officers. I am excited to see some innovative ideas from the new leadership to make positive changes for the department. My goal has always been to leave the department better than I found it, and I hope to see that philosophy continue. I always tried to focus on improving the people, equipment and the stations. We have two ambulances and a fire engine that I was able to get approved and ordered, but with three-year build times, they will all arrive after I leave. We are also just starting the preliminary planning phase of remodeling the public safety building. I look forward to coming back to visit in the future and seeing the new vehicles, some new people and an updated station.
What are your final thoughts? I am proud of what I was able to accomplish. I had my share of failures too, but I always tried to learn and grow from them. I also realize I could never have done any of it alone. I was truly blessed to work with so many talented people, and I learned so much from so many.