Fire Chief Andy Bonomo Awarded Fire Chief of the Year

The Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) awarded the recipients of the 2018 Fire Chief of the Year awards this past week during the Presidential Banquet and Reception in Peoria, Illinois. Each year the IFCA accepts recommendations for the fire chief of the year in four categories; Career Fire Chief (population over 25,000), Career Fire Chief (population under 25, 000), Part Time/Combination Fire Chief, and Volunteer Fire Chief. Fire Chiefs may be nominated by anyone who is familiar with their contributions to the community. Applicants are selected based on Public Education and Life Safety Advancements, Innovative and Entrepreneurial Efforts, Education and Credential Portfolio and Public-Private Sector Contributions. Chief Officers from the more than 1000 recognized Fire Departments in Illinois are eligible for nomination. This award is acknowledged throughout the fire service in Illinois and nationwide as an incredibly prestigious recognition of the efforts a Chief Fire Officer takes to protect the community.

Chief Andy Bonomo, Jr. of the York Center Fire Protection District was nominated for the award by his Deputy Fire Chief Richard Sanborn and West Chicago Fire District Assistant Fire Chief Tim Leidig. A Part-Time/Combination Fire District protecting unincorporated DuPage County areas around Lombard, Villa Park, Oak Brook and Oak Brook Terrace, the York Center Fire District population increases to over 50,000 during the daytime hours. The District employs sixty part-time firefighters and is rated as an ISO Class 2 fire department. Chief Bonomo is described as a mentor and dedicated counselor. Over his 45 year fire service career, Chief Bonomo has been a continuing advocate for his community. He has assured the fire codes are continuously reviewed and up to date, developed and implemented a number of high-rise safety programs and worked tirelessly with many DuPage County agencies to enhance the fire service response throughout the County.