Battalion Chief Brian Applegate Promoted to Deputy Chief as New Lenox Fire District Surpasses 6,000 Annual Calls

New Lenox Fire Protection District Board of Trustees Meeting | January 19, 2026

Article Summary:
The New Lenox Fire Protection District Board of Trustees officially instructed the Fire Commission to appoint Battalion Chief Brian Applegate to the newly created second Deputy Chief position. The administrative expansion comes as the District reported a record-breaking year, surpassing 6,000 emergency calls in 2025.

Deputy Chief Appointment Key Points:

• Leadership Expansion: Battalion Chief Brian Applegate has been selected to fill the District’s newly established second Deputy Chief role.

• Record Call Volume: Deputy Chief Randolph reported the District handled over 6,000 calls in 2025, an increase of 439 calls compared to the previous year.

• Next Steps: Applegate’s official promotion will be finalized once his contract is accepted and additional departmental hires are completed to backfill his vacancy.

The New Lenox Fire Protection District Board of Trustees on Monday, January 19, 2026, unanimously directed the Fire Commission to appoint current Battalion Chief Brian Applegate to the rank of Deputy Chief, reinforcing the District’s command staff amid surging emergency call volumes.

The Board officially created the second Deputy Chief position during its previous meeting in December to address the growing administrative and operational needs of the expanding District. Applegate was recommended for the promotion to fill the new vacancy.

The expansion of the command staff directly correlates with the rising demand for emergency services in the New Lenox area. During his departmental report, Deputy Chief Randolph informed the Board that the crews have been exceptionally busy, officially surpassing the District’s estimate of 6,000 calls for the 2025 calendar year. The final data represents a substantial increase of 439 emergency calls over the prior year.

The Board authorized Applegate’s appointment in a 5-0 roll call vote following a motion by Trustee Scanlan and a second by Trustee Popp.

“Congratulations to soon-to-be Deputy Chief Applegate,” Trustee Scanlan said during the meeting’s closing comments. “The increase in calls and billing shows all the hard work of the crews and staff.”

Trustee Levey echoed the sentiments, calling the promotion “well deserved” and thanking the crews, fire prevention staff, and administrative teams for working together seamlessly during a period of high volume and active facility construction.

The District noted that Applegate’s official promotion will go into effect once his employment contract is accepted and the department completes the additional hires necessary to fill the resulting shifts in the command structure.