Arlington Heights deputy fire chief hired to lead Wauconda Fire District
Wauconda Fire District Chief Patrick Kane, who started as a part-time firefighter in 1995, is retiring Jan. 20 and will be succeeded by Curt Hanselman, deputy chief with the Arlington Heights Fire Department.
Kane, a Marine Corps veteran, was hired as a full-time member of the Wauconda Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic in 1999 and ascended the ranks. After the department merged into the fire district, he subsequently was promoted to lieutenant in 2009, battalion chief in 2016 and deputy chief in 2019.
He continued efforts already underway to implement the Mobile Integrated Healthcare program, which utilizes firefighter/paramedics to provide “pre-emergency” medical outreach. It is meant as a preemptive measure to provide patient service to avoid the unintentional misuse of the emergency medical system, according to the district.
Wauconda and four other area departments partner with Northwest Community EMS System in the program, which is funded through grants from health and civic organizations, Lake County and area hospitals.
The district worked with municipal recruitment firm MGT Corporation to find a successor. Hanselman was chosen from among 53 candidates and is the first chief hired from outside the department.
He brings 30 years experience and has been deputy chief in Arlington Heights since 2021. He has a bachelor of science degree in fire administration from Columbia Southern University and will complete a master’s in fire executive leaders this year.
Hanselman holds the chief fire officer designation from the state and Center for Public Safety Excellence and has numerous state and national operational certifications, according to the district. He has served on several boards and committees including the Northwest Community Hospital Advisory Board for EMS.
The Wauconda Fire District’s three stations provide services to about 40,000 people covering about 50 square miles in all or parts of Port Barrington, Hawthorn Woods, Island Lake, Lake Barrington, Lakemoor, North Barrington, Round Lake, Tower Lakes, Volo and Wauconda, and some unincorporated areas in Lake and McHenry counties.