Newsmakers of the Year: Elburn salutes retiring Fire Chief Kelly Callaghan

ELBURN – Fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming a firefighter, Kelly Callaghan retired in October after 33 years of service with his hometown Elburn & Countryside Fire Protection District.

He and his brother, Keith, and their neighborhood friends began hanging out with some of the volunteer firefighters when they were kids, helping to wash the trucks and clean the station and hoses. In high school, he became a cadet and then served as a volunteer firefighter for four years after graduating in 1985. He said the real reason he became a firefighter was to help people.

In 1989, Callaghan was hired as the department’s full time deputy chief, and he was promoted to chief in 2001.

“I’m very appreciative that the community has trusted me and my administration to guide the district for so long,” he had said.

He said he’s proud to have been a part of the department’s growth, including two additional fire stations and the move of Station 1 to its new location last year.

“Kelly Callaghan, in my opinion, as a young man made a decision, and he has dedicated his life and his life’s efforts to the village of Elburn and the Elburn & Countryside [District],” said Elburn Village President Dave Anderson, who has known Callaghan all his life. “I am very proud of him as well as many, many, many other residents in the village should be.”

The new chief is Joseph Cluchey, who was selected in a nationwide search and previously served as chief of the South Elgin & Countryside Fire Protection District.