CHANNAHON — New Channahon Fire Department Chief John Petrakis was welcomed to town this month by the Channahon Village Board.

After serving as fire chief in Princeton, Ill., Petrakis takes over the position vacated by former chief David Riddle, who resigned in March.

His first day on the job was July 2, and he has been spending his time learning the routines, procedures and staff in the department. The people, he said, are the best thing about the CFD.

"I love this fire department, and the people and the challenges," he said. "I have really got a fantastic group of men and women here."

Petrakis has wanted to pursue fire science since high school in Cary, Ill., after hanging out with a good friend who was a cadet in the Cary Fire Department.

"It drew my interest," he said. "I liked the idea of being able to help people, and I liked the spontaneity of it."

After serving on a volunteer ambulance service beginning in 1996 while attending Illinois State University, Petrakis took a volunteer position in the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Fire Department, which later turned into a part-time firefighter/EMT job. He then worked in the fire department at Hanover Park, and then went to Princeton as deputy chief. He was later appointed fire chief there.

After Channahon Fire Chief Riddle resigned to take a position as deputy fire chief in Plainfield, Channahon's board did a search and hired Petrakis.

He said he loved the department from the beginning.

"I was looking for some new challenges," he said. "There is a lot going on out here, so challenges are plentiful. ... We're also looking forward to being closer to family."

Petrakis has family in Lockport, and his wife, Angela, has family in Romeoville and Plainfield. They have two children, Ethan, 9, and Lillian, 6, who Petrakis said are looking forward to starting this year in Channahon schools.

Angela, a teacher, will serve in a paraprofessional position in District 17 schools this year.