Deputy Fire Chief Wagner Set To Retire In Buffalo Grove

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Deputy Fire Chief Bill Wagner will retire on July 2. He served nearly 32 years with the Village of Buffalo Grove, with a total of 38 years in the fire service.

Wagner was appointed deputy chief in Buffalo Grove in 2015 and has been instrumental in developing ongoing improvements related to pre-fire planning and investigations, according to the Village. He additionally provided critical insight and utilized his extensive experience in the fire service to implement new technology that increased operational capabilities and efficiencies within the department.

After what it called "an exhaustive application and assessment process," the Village said Larry Kane has been chosen to be the next deputy chief in Buffalo Grove, effective June 20. Kane comes from the Glenview Fire Department, where he served for 21 years, most recently as a battalion chief.

Wagner is currently the chairperson of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Division 1 OPGS Committee, which has a regional influence on mutual aid operations in the fire service. MABAS is a statewide response system for fire departments and fire protection districts that groups neighboring agencies together through agreements. The mutual aid provided is through physical assistance when resources are needed during fires and other emergency incidents.

Prior to his service to Buffalo Grove, Wagner worked for the Franklin Park and Pleasantview fire departments until he was hired by the Village on Aug. 13, 1990, according to the Village.

Ken's other previous professional experiences include two years as the fire chief for the Harvard Fire Protection District and 15 years of fire service instruction at McHenry Community College. In addition, he served for three years as a police officer in Mt. Prospect and six years in the United States Army. Kane holds a Master’s Degree in Public Safety Administration from Lewis University.

A third-generation firefighter, Kane is married to a school teacher and they have two children in high school, a son who is a junior and a daughter who is a freshman. He enjoys outdoor activities including fishing, hunting and camping.