[Manteno, Illinois] – The Manteno Community Fire Protection District is proud to announce the promotion of Battalion Chief Richard Petersen to the position of Fire Chief, effective May 1, 2025. Petersen will succeed Chief Scott O’Brien, who is retiring after 23 years of dedicated service to the community.

Chief O’Brien has led the Manteno Community Fire Protection District since 2008 with distinction, overseeing advancements in emergency response, fiscal effectiveness, firefighter training, and community safety initiatives. Under his leadership, the district has navigated significant challenges while continuously improving service delivery for our EMS, Fire & Rescue services.

“Serving as Fire Chief has been the greatest honor of my career,” said Chief O’Brien. “I am incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished, and I have full confidence that Chief Petersen will continue to lead the department with dedication and a commitment to excellence.”

Incoming Chief Richard Petersen brings 27 years of fire service experience to the role, having served as Battalion Chief since 2016. A lifelong public servant, Petersen has been instrumental in enhancing district training programs and emergency response protocols. His participation has been important in ensuring the safety and efficiency of fire and EMS services throughout the district. He becomes only the third full time Fire Chief in Manteno Fire’s history.

“I am honored to step into this role and continue serving our community,” said Petersen. “Chief O’Brien has built a strong foundation, and I look forward to working alongside our dedicated team to advance our mission of providing the highest professional emergency services for the preservation of life and property.”

For more information, please contact: Chief Scott O’Brien 815.468.7100

About the Manteno Community Fire Protection District

The Manteno Community Fire Protection District was established in 1948 protecting 96.3 square miles. The Fire Protection District boundaries range from county road 6000 North as our south boundary, to county road 12000 North or “County Line” as our north boundary. From county road 8000 East or “Whitaker” to the east, and county road 7000 West or “Warner Bridge Road” to the west. The Fire Protection District provides fire and ambulance service to approximately 12500 residents. The Fire District has 2 stations; both staffed 24 hours a day. The Fire District employs a Fire Chief, 3 Battalion Chiefs, 3 Lieutenants, 15 Full Time Firefighter/Paramedics, and 4 Paid-On-Call Firefighters.

What we do:
Planning, Prevention, Preparation & Response

Why we do it:
Improving the Quality of Life in Our Community
One Day/One Call at a Time

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Dear Manteno Residents & Businesses,

As your Fire Chief, and as someone who lives and works here in this community—I want to take a moment to talk openly about the lithium battery facility project and what it means for public safety.

Anytime something new comes into town, especially something technical or unfamiliar, it’s natural for people to have concerns. That’s not just understandable—it’s healthy. My role is to look at these concerns through the lens of emergency preparedness and community risk. And I want to be clear: the risks associated with lithium battery facilities are real—but they are manageable.

When I say “manageable,” I mean we know what the risks are, we know how to prevent them, and we are trained and equipped to respond effectively if something does happen. We’ve already been doing that for other risks for years.

Think about it: every day, we manage risks from highway traffic on I-57, Rt 50 & Rt 45; the numerous trains carrying a lot of really bad stuff daily, fuel stations, industrial farming chemicals, warehouses, and even chronic strains from overuse of our 911 system by non-emergency care facilities. In fact, some of the greatest strains on our emergency services right now come from repeated, non-emergent calls from tax-exempt facilities & our senior population, which tie up ambulances and staff we need for true emergencies. That is a less visible—but more unpredictable and ongoing—risk to our community.

In contrast, a facility like the lithium battery facility is something we can plan for in advance. We’re working directly with numerous agencies and the company itself to ensure that all the right safety & protection systems, protocols, and training are in place. We’re updating our emergency response plans and seeking out specialized training and resources as needed.

At the end of the day, our job is not to take sides – it’s to keep people safe, no matter what changes come to town. This is a risk we can understand, prepare for, and manage responsibly. I want you to know we’re committed to doing exactly that. But it’s a shared responsibility that takes our entire community to ensure its success!

We will continue to keep the public informed and prepared. If you have questions, please feel free to call or stop in to discuss your concerns.

Sincerely,

MANTENO COMMUNITY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
Scott O’Brien
Fire Chief