Westmont department boasts family of firefighters

WESTMONT – The Westmont Fire Department is starting to look like a family business, thanks to a father and two of his children who work at the department.

Patriarch Dan Sullivan has been a part-time firefighter for 30 years. He's joined at the department by his son, Brendan, and daughter, Shannon.

Dan said having that many members of the same family working for the department is interesting, but having two relatives at the same department isn't rare.

"Fire service is generational," he said. "It's not unusual to have fathers and sons who've shared a department."

Dan, who works full time as a hospital chaplain, said he has a passion for firefighting.

"I think had I not pursued college and theology schools and others, I would have pursued firefighting," he said.

Now, he's nearing retirement from the department, but still works 12-hour evening shifts from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., often going right to his hospital job afterward.

"That's part of the reason why I'm in the twilight of my career," he said.

Dan said his kids were exposed to firefighting at an early age through department visits and playing firefighter in the backyard.

Brendan made the decision that firefighting was his passion in high school. He said going to the department when he was younger led him to take an introduction to fire service class.

"After that I just knew for sure this is what I wanted to do for my job," he said.

He got his degree in fire science from the College of DuPage.

Brendan now works full time at the Evanston Fire Department and part time at the Westmont Fire Department, where he takes five shifts a month, he said.

Shannon is completing classes at College of DuPage for her fire science degree and being mentored by Westmont firefighters.

She said she never pictured spending her life fighting fires, but isn't entirely surprised based on her family's background.

"So far, it's really good. I really enjoy it," Shannon said.

She's keeping her fingers crossed she can get into the Westmont department, but it will be about another year before she finds out. She looks forward to the possibility of working with her family permanently.

"I want to have a good time together and still be able to get work done," she said.

Dan said he has a second son who "has interest" in firefighting and may pursue it down the road.

"As a dad, you worry about your kids," Dan said. "But this is a great profession where people have each other's backs. I'm immensely proud of them."