Elmhurst appoints interim fire chief

Elmhurst has named an acting fire chief to replace Tom Freeman, who retired after nearly five years leading the department.

Deputy Fire Chief Bill Anaszewicz has been appointed to the interim role.

Freeman bid farewell to the department at the end of April. He first took the helm in October 2016.

Freeman brought more than 44 years of experience in firefighting, coming to Elmhurst after serving as the fire chief for the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District for 22 years. He also served as an assistant fire chief in Evergreen Park.

During his tenure in Elmhurst, Freeman helped roll out the department's rapid response vehicle, "Rescue One," an SUV equipped with life-support equipment.

Freeman also was a member of the DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management crisis management team and the Illinois Terrorism Task Force committee on training. And he served as president of MABAS Division 16, among other regional roles.

As an instructor for the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute and the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, Freeman teaches throughout the state.