Chambana Sun

On Dec. 8, City Manager Dorothy Ann David announced that she has appointed Andy Quarnstrom to serve as the City of Champaign’s next Fire Chief. Quarnstrom has served at the Champaign Fire Department for more than 26 years and is currently the Acting Deputy Fire Chief of Operations. He has also served as the elected City of Champaign Township Supervisor since 2013, a position he intends to resign from to focus on his new responsibilities. Quarnstrom will assume his new duties as Fire Chief on March 1, 2024, or upon the Township Board’s appointment of a replacement Township Supervisor, whichever is sooner.

Quarnstrom has spent his entire fire service career advancing through the ranks at the Champaign Fire Department. He joined the department in 1997 and served nine years as a Firefighter, followed by six years as a Fire Engineer, six years as a Fire Lieutenant, and three years as a Fire Captain. He was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2019 and has served as Acting Deputy Fire Chief of Operations since July 2023. Throughout his career Quarnstrom has demonstrated leadership and hands-on expertise in fire prevention and suppression, emergency response management, all-hazards operations, training and mentoring, fiscal management, and community risk reduction initiatives. He has served as EMS coordinator, SWAT team medic, Emergency Medical Services Director, COVID-19 Response Leader, and responded to numerous large-scale, multi-agency emergencies.

“Andy has dedicated his entire career to caring for the residents of Champaign,” said City Manager Dorothy Ann David. “Andy is respected as a leader in fire and emergency services, and his extensive knowledge of our City makes him the right choice to serve as our next Chief. He is a long-time resident of this community, demonstrating his commitment to public service through 26 years of experience in the Champaign Fire Department. I am proud that our Fire Department is a model for professionalism and service, and I know that Andy will be a Chief that continues to build upon the City’s culture of excellence. It is my privilege to promote him into this important leadership role.”

Andy Quarnstrom said, “I am honored and humbled to be appointed as Champaign’s next Fire Chief. It will be an honor to lead this department of dedicated and talented firefighters in a city and community that I love and have had the distinct pleasure to serve over the last 26 years.”

Quarnstrom holds an Associate of Applied Science in Paramedicine degree from Parkland College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. He is also completing coursework in anticipation of receiving his Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Illinois Springfield in May 2024.

Original source can be found here.