Assistant Chief Lenn Grant Retires After 37 Years of Service
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Barrington Fire Department Assistant Chief Lenn Grant was honored at a November 23 retirement ceremony that paid tribute to his 37 years of service to the Village of Barrington and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District. He is the first full-time firefighter to retire from the department.
Firefighters, local officials, and family and friends assembled at the Barrington Public Safety building to honor A/C Grant during a formal Last Alarm and Last Inspection ceremony after his final shift.
The ceremony commenced with a dispatch call to alert firefighters at all three stations that Chief Grant had responded to his “last alarm.” Following the call, Barrington Fire Chief Jim Arie invited A/C Grant to conduct a final inspection of department firefighters who stood at attention. The inspection offered him an opportunity to thank each firefighter for their service, and to say goodbye.
Firefighters then lowered the flag that had flown above the fire station on A/C Grant’s final shift. The flag will be presented it to him at a retirement party in January.
The Last Alarm ceremony, and A/C Grant’s 37 years of service, ended with a final remark by Chief Arie. “With thanks and appreciation for your service, you are hereby relieved of duty.”
Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District Trustees were on hand to witness the ceremony. According to Trustee Thomas Rowan, “Assistant Chief Grant has a long history of service to both the fire department and the district. I know each trustee wanted to personally thank him for that service, and to wish him well in the future.”
Were it not for his marriage to wife Patti, A/C Grant’s career likely would have taken a profoundly different path.
The early 1970s found A/C Grant pursuing a career in business. He was working for General Electric, after completing degrees in economics and business from the University of Northern Colorado.
“I married a local girl a few years before, whose father served with the Barrington Fire Department. It was only a matter of time before he asked me if I was interested in becoming a part of the team,” A/C Grant explained. “It was a unique opportunity. Emergency medical training sounded exciting, so I thought I’d give it a try.”
He joined the fire department in 1972 as a paid, on-call firefighter/EMT. At the time, fire departments across the state were making the transition to paramedic services, after legislation was passed allowing paramedics to practice in Illinois. Until 1973, ambulance services were operated by local funeral homes and hospitals.
A/C Grant graduated with the fire department’s second paramedic class, and received a full-time position with the Village of Barrington in 1985. He became a full-time firefighter in the mid-1990s, earned promotion to lieutenant in 2000, and was appointed Assistant Fire Chief in 2008.
A/C Grant recalled the incredible change in how the fire department serves Barrington and District residents over the last 37 years.
“I’ve seen this department evolve from a group of dedicated part-time firefighters into one of the best in the country,” he said. “Our professionals have achieved certification in everything from advanced medical treatment and high-angle rescue to hazardous materials containment. I am incredibly impressed by what our firefighters have achieved. It has been a privilege to serve with them.”