from the Village of Elmhurst:
At the city council meeting to be held on Monday, September 18, 2023, City Manager Jim Grabowski will seek the council’s approval of his recommendation in appointing Interim Fire Chief Richard “Dick” Dufort to chief of the Elmhurst Fire Department. Dufort has been serving as the interim chief since April of 2023.
Chief Dufort has more than 30 years of firefighting experience with the City of Elmhurst. An Elmhurst resident and graduate of York Community High School, he went on to complete his Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science from the College of DuPage and is continuing his education in the Fire Science Management Program at Southern Illinois University. He joined the Elmhurst Fire Department in March of 1993.
During his tenure with the City of Elmhurst, Chief Dufort has served in various leadership roles. Starting as a firefighter, he attended courses to continue his professional development and receive certification in training and education. In 2012, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, responsible for the management and mentoring of personnel, fire tactics, and training. He was promoted to battalion chief in 2017, supervising employees at both fire stations, participating in contract negotiations, and assisting in policy and procedure development, planning, and budget preparations.In April 2023, he was appointed as Interim Fire Chief, responsible for leading the fire department and engaging in continuous development efforts, collaborating with the city ctaff, and identifying areas for growth and improvement.
