Departing Batavia fire chief seen growth of department

BATAVIA – When Bill Darin took over as chief of the Batavia Fire Department in April 1982, he was only one of six full-time firefighters at the department.

Today, the department has 36 full-time firefighters along with 40 paid-on-call firefighters. As Darin prepares to leave the department he has led for almost 27 years, he is proud of how the department has grown.

“Our department is right up there with everybody,” Darin said. “We have the finest state of the art fire stations in the metropolitan area, and our apparatus is state of the art. And this department has always been known for having good training.”

Friday is Darin’s last day as Batavia fire chief. Darin, 55, is leaving to become the new East Peoria fire chief.

Randy Deicke, who has been named interim fire chief, promised a seamless transition.

Before being named interim fire chief, Deicke had been deputy fire chief with the Batavia Fire Department since 2006.

“Nobody will notice a difference from the outside,” Deicke said. “We will have the same responses we have always had.”

Firefighting is in Darin’s blood. He is a fourth-generation firefighter.

“I would chase the fire trucks on my bicycle as a youngster,” Darin said.

Darin’s son, Mike, is carrying on the tradition. He is a firefighter in Louisville, Ky.

Over the years, Darin has seen firefighting improve because of technology.

“Who ever thought we would have a computer on a fire truck 20 years ago?” Darin said.

He said an onboard computer has become a vital tool for firefighters.

“It shows you right where the street is you are going to,” Darin said. “It shows you where the nearest hydrant is, and if there is something hazardous in the building.”

Requirements regarding the installation of smoke detectors and sprinkler systems also have helped their efforts, he said.

“That has helped reduce fatalities and to keep fires minimal,” Darin said.

He has seen his fair share of emergencies and tragedies as Batavia fire chief.

Darin remembered one fire that broke out in a restaurant in downtown Batavia in February 1988.

“It was well below zero outside,” Darin said. “That building was a total loss, but we saved both buildings on each side of it.”

He also responded to the scene of a car that hit a tree at the intersection of Western Avenue and McKee Street in the late 1980s.

Three high school students died in the crash, he said.

“That was a tragic event for the entire community,” Darin said.

Darin said he hoped the struggling economy won’t adversely affect the Batavia fire department.

“You have to try to make sure you have enough personnel to do the job,” Darin said.

At the same time, Darin said he is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of being the chief of a new department. One of his first challenges will be to relocate East Peoria Fire Department’s main fire station.

The fire department right now shares a building with the East Peoria Police Department.

“They are out of space,” Darin said.

He leaves Batavia with mixed emotions.

“It’s going to be hard leaving these beautiful fire stations and the relationships I’ve had with the firefighters,” Darin said.