‘I am so incredibly honored,’ Rockford Fire Chief represents women while making Illinois history

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — After 32 years of service in Rockford, Fire Chief Michele Pankow said she is emotional as she sets off on her next adventure.

Chief Pankow has served as Rockford’s first female Fire Chief since 2021. If she is appointed by the State Senate, she will also be Illinois’ first female State Fire Marshal, beginning July 14th.

As she prepares to step into this new role, Pankow said she is filled with gratitude.

“I am so incredibly honored to have this opportunity, but I mean, it really was surreal as well because it wasn’t something that I expected,” the Chief said.

Chief Pankow said above all, she is excited to embark on this next chapter in her career.

“I’ve heard a lot of great things about the staff for the State Fire Marshal, and so I’m very excited about that, and also excited to get out there and kind of put a face to a name for departments and agencies across the state. I’m really excited to understand what my new role is truly going to be like.”

Pankow served as Rockford’s Fire Chief for four years and said it will always be her home.

“I love the Rockford Fire Department,” she said. “It’s been a family for me for so many years. The department and the city of Rockford, I mean, it really is obviously near and dear to my heart, and so I am very excited that I have this opportunity to kind of, you know, represent.”

Though her new role requires her to serve in Springfield, Chief Pankow said she knows this isn’t a “goodbye” to Rockford.

“I don’t intend to stop serving, I’ll just hopefully do it on a larger scale,” the Chief said. “For things that impact the folks here in Rockford and things that impact the fire department. I don’t know that I want to say farewell, I will just say that I’ll be around.”

She said she is confident in whoever fills her shoes as Rockford’s Fire Chief when she leaves her position on July 9th.