South West Illinois News

State Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud) is doing his part to prevent convicted arsonists from joining the fire service after one was appointed chief of a fire department in his district. 

Friess recently introduced legislation that would allow a person or board responsible for hiring to take an applicant's arson or criminal damaging by fire conviction, arrest, or charge into consideration.

"What happens in these small communities, as most people know, the local fire departments are a really integral part of our community," Friess said during a Feb. 16 press conference. "If you appoint a convicted arsonist, obviously you were going to lose that faith and trust in that community."

Friess pointed to the Prairie DuPont Fire Protection district whose chief was convicted of arson prior to the appointment, but pardoned by Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) last year.

"This volunteer fire department had 13 individuals on it. Following this appointment 10 or 11 of those individuals immediately resigned," Friess said. "It's very unfortunate. I cannot understand why our governor would do this."

The legislation, House Bill 5693, would also require a person applying for a position on a fire department or fire protection district to disclose whether they'd been charged, arrested, or convicted of any fire-related offenses.

"Although the hiring is obviously left up to the mayor or the fire department, this really needs to be brought to the attention of the public," Friess said. "This individual specifically burned down a house and attempted to burn down the high school there in the community. Our citizens have a right to know who is going to be appointed their fire chief and I hope this bill gets through."

The bill currently resides in the House Rules Committee.

According to the Illinois General Assembly website, Reps. Mark Luft (R-Pekin) and Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) have signed on as co-sponsors.

Should the legislation pass and become law, it would go into effect immediately.