Villa Park Fire Chief Elected President of DuPage County Fire Chiefs

Submitted by the Village of Villa Park.

Villa Park, IL - On Jan. 9, Villa Park Fire Chief Ron Rakosnik was sworn in as President of the DuPage County Fire Chiefs.

Previously, Rakosnik served two years as treasurer and one year as vice president of DuPage County Fire Chiefs. During the organization’s Annual Installation Dinner, Sen. Tom Cullerton (D - Villa Park) swore in Rakosnik as president.

“I’m proud to be a member of the organization, but it’s an honor to be president,” Rakosnik said of his new position.

The organization, founded in 1975, provides a network for area fire chiefs to collaborate, promote fire safety and improve the fire service. As a non-profit, the DuPage County Fire Chiefs supplies scholarships for firefighter training programs. In addition the chiefs also support the 100 Club of DuPage County, which assists families of fallen or injured law enforcement and firefighting personnel.

One product of such county-wide collaboration is the ability to apply for regional grants.

Recently, 12 local departments, including Villa Park, were awarded a $218,182 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for an emergency vehicle driver simulator.

Rakosnik looks forward to continuing the effective collaboration DuPage County Fire Chiefs provides as well as continuing to improve the fire service throughout the county.