Longtime Firefighter James Angell Becomes Chicago Heights Fire Chief

Angell was one of three top candidates for the position.

In his 26th year as a firefighter, James "Jamie" Angell is now the Chief of the Chicago Heights Fire Department. Angell has been with the department for eight years, recently serving as assistant chief to Tom Martello up until August of 2011, when Martello retired. Since Martello's departure the city has received more than 50 applicants for the coveted position, with a selection committee narrowing down the list of candidates for Mayor David Gonzalez to choose from. "I looked at the top three, and it is my honor to appoint Deputy Chief Angell to the position of fire chief," Gonzalez said in the council chambers at City Hall, adding that he would like to see more internal hiring within the city government. After being sworn in by City Clerk…

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On the Agenda

Mayor Gonzalez to Appoint New Fire Chief at Council Meeting

Chicago Heights City Council meets Wednesday, Jan. 18, with several items on the agenda.

Mayor David Gonzalez and the Chicago Heights City Council will meet Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. There will be time allotted for public participation and comments. Click on the PDF above to see the full agenda for the city council meeting. The meeting will be taking place at the Chicago Heights City Hall building, inside the council chambers.

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Chicago Heights Seeks New Fire Chief

Candidates have until Oct. 31 to submit their resumes.

There's been an unmistakable void in the two months since Chicago Heights Fire Chief Tom Martello walked away from his position. Asst. Chief James Angell has been running the show in the months that followed, acting as interim chief but not officially taking on the title of the position. The City of Chicago Heights recently posted news on its Website that interested parties can now submit resumes for the full-time fire chief position. The required qualifications for applicants include: This position requires knowledge of the principles of modern fire department administration and fire science. Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, procedures, equipment and apparatus used in modern firefighting and emergency medical operations …

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Remarkable Residents

Fire Chief Tom Martello Bids Farewell to the Badge

After 38 years in fire service, Martello says he wants to go out happy.

One week from today, Chief Tom Martello will be saying goodbye to the Chicago Heights Fire Department. Martello, who has been involved in firefighting since 1973, said he is ready to retire, and has been for a while now. "I’ve been planning this for some time now," Martello said. "It seems like you never find the most opportune time. We had just returned from vacation and I had a long talk with my wife, I said, ‘I just keep putting this thing off.’" The chief has been helping put out fires and keeping people safe for nearly four decades. Oddly enough, Martello initially had no intention of becoming a firefighter. "I was on the road to going into communication electronics and computers in 1973, which was a pretty new field back then," …

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