WTF? Former Arsonist Just Got Appointed Fire Chief In Illinois, Over A Dozen Firefighters Resign

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill. (KTVI) – There were high emotions and high drama at a fire district board meeting in Illinois Monday, as a once-convicted arsonist was named acting fire chief of the volunteer fire department.

The board removed John Rosencranz as chief of the Prairie Du Pont Volunteer Fire Department and replaced him with Assistant Chief Jerame Simmons. The two were seated at the same table when the change was made.

Board members said they had good reasons for making the change but they have not made those reasons public.

That wasn’t good enough reasoning for most of the department’s firefighters. Ten of the department’s 13 firefighters quit on the spot.

One firefighter took off his fire department shirt and threw it at the board. Minutes later, he plopped his gear onto the table in front of them.

Jerame Simmons, the new acting fire chief, is the son of Herb Simmons, the long-time director of the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency.

Jerame Simmons pleaded guilty to arson more than 20 years ago when he was 18. He was accused of setting fire to a vacant home and setting another, smaller fire, at a high school. He served probation.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has since pardoned him, he said.