Outrage as Illinois town votes for convicted ARSONIST to be its new fire chief

A firefighter in a small Illinois town threw his gear away in protest during a mass resignation after the town’s board elected a a convicted arsonist as the fire chief.

Ten of the department’s 13 firefighters quit Monday after Assistant Chief Jerame Simmons Sr. was elevated to chief of the Prairie Du Pont Volunteer Fire Department in Saint Clair County, according to Fox 2 Now. 

Simmons, 41, pleaded guilty to arson more than 20 years ago when he was just 18. 

Eight of the ten firefighters who quit submitted a resignation letter to the board Monday announcing that they were leaving their positions ‘with regret and sorrow.’ 

In a video from the hotly-contested town board meeting, one of the fuming firefighters placed his helmet and fire-resistant jacket on the table before walking out.

‘These people feel like they have absolutely no other option,’ said ousted fire chief John Rosencranz of the departed firefighters.  

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One of ten fireman who quit in protest Monday in protest after Assistant Chief Jerame Simmons Sr. was named chief of the Prairie Du Pont Volunteer Fire Department

One of the volunteer firefighters throws his equipment onto the board’s table in outrage after a convicted arsonist was elected fire chief of the Prairie Du Pont Volunteer Fire Department

Simmons is seen on the job as a fireman prior to his election as fire chief

In August, Rosenkranz said that the board held an ‘unusual’ meeting where they announced Simmons – the son of long-time director of the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Herb Simmons – would be appointed the department’s acting assistant chief.

Rosenkranz said that he was not notified beforehand of the board’s decision, despite spending upwards of 40 hours a week at the fire station while working full-time as a teamster. 

Rosenkranz added that the safety of the community is now in greater peril with the loss of the majority of the fire department’s volunteer staff. 

‘It’s not important that I’m the chief or not the chief,’ Rosenkranz said. 

‘It’s about … making sure everything’s taken care of.’

Residents of the town located about 17 miles east of St. Louis were also burning mad. 

‘All of our houses could burn down!’ one woman lashed out during Monday’s meeting after the ten firefighters quit. 

A firefighter quits in protest after a man once convicted of arson was named the acting fire chief of the Prairie Du Pont Volunteer Fire Department in St. Clair County, Illinois

Former Fire Chief John Rosecranz, left, who was replaced from his post during Monday’s board meeting election, and Jerame Simmons Sr, right, who replaced Rosecranz

‘I’ve never seen anything like this,’ a man who identified himself as a retired firefighter told the board. 

Simmons was charged after setting fire to a vacant home and setting another, smaller fire, at Dupo High School in 1999.  

Simmons’ father was mayor of East Carondelet in Saint Clair County at the time of his son’s sentencing, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported at the time.

The son was convicted but ultimately served just four years of probation before being recently pardoned by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, according to KTVI.

‘It’s a pardon. Still, the town remembers the school being set on fire,’ said former fire captain Laura Rosencranz, wife of the former chief, John Rosencranz. 

‘The town remembers the house set on fire where we had firefighters fall and be injured.’

Her husband said: ‘I think it’s appalling and disgusting. 

‘We’re not going to have the adequate protection here. It’s not going to be as it should be here. I’m kind of blindsided but not. I knew it was coming, but I didn’t expect it to be a couple of days before Christmas.’ 

Simmons, pictured right, served just four years of probation and was later pardoned by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker

Simmons was accused of setting fire to a vacant home, pictured, and setting another, smaller fire, at Du Pont High School

Pictures show results of Jerame Simmons arson incidents from twenty years ago, when Simmons pleaded guilty to arson when he was 18 years old

Pictured: Former Chief John Rosecranz, who spoke out against his replacement on Monday

While board members have hinted that the replacement was made with good reason, they have yet to disclose those reasons to the public. 

Rosencranz, who said he had served as the chief for about three years and had been with the department for 19, said the board did not give him a reason for his dismissal. 

Meanwhile, the chiefs of two neighboring fire departments, Cahokia and Dupo, said they supported Simmons and expressed full confidence in him as acting chief, Fox 2 Now reported. 

They added their departments would help fill any gaps left by the ten resignations that were tendered during Monday’s board meeting election.   

Simmons, pictured left, once convicted of arson, was was named the acting fire chief of the Prairie Du Pont Volunteer Fire Department in St. Clair County, Illinois on Monday

Prairie Du Pont Volunteer Fire Department in St. Clair County, Illinois