George Rimbo Sworn In as New Lemont Fire Chief

Lemont's new fire chief, George Rimbo, officially took the reins of the Lemont Fire Protection District on Thursday.

More than a hundred local firefighters, elected officials and community members gathered at the Lemont Township Community Center to see Rimbo be sworn in as chief. He replaces Chief Carl Churulo, who will  retire next month after eight years with the district.

Rimbo, 44, said he was humbled to see such a large crowd turn out for the ceremony.

"I'm honored, I'm extremely nervous, I'm scared to death—these (other fire chiefs) probably know what I'm talking about," Rimbo said. "I can't wait to get started."

Rimbo started with the Lemont Fire Protection District in April 1988 as an on-call firefighter, and was promoted to a full-time position the next year. He became a lieutenant in 1993 and a battalion chief in 2009.

His grandfather served as a district lieutenant in the 1950s, and his father has served on the board for 11 years. They also believe George's great-grandfather was a volunteer firefighter before any formal records were kept.

"This fire district has meant a lot to my family, so I think it makes becoming chief even more special," Rimbo said.

Rimbo was born and raised in Lemont, and graduated from Lemont High School in 1987. He earned an associate's degree in fire science from the College of DuPage in 1995, and a bachelor's degree in fire service management from Southern Illinois University in 1999.

He and his wife, Agatha, have two sons—Joe, 19, a 2012 graduate of Lemont High School, and Tom, 16, a rising junior.

Rimbo was elected in April to his second term on the Lemont High School District 210 Board of Education, a position he continues to hold.

Rimbo will be the 17th fire chief in the district's 127-year history, but is the only one in recent history to be hired from within.

"A big part of my job has been mentoring guys like George because we always wanted the next chief to be someone from the inside," Churulo said last month. "George was just the right man for the job. He's well-qualified and will do an excellent job. I'm very happy with the decision." 

During the ceremony, Rimbo said he hopes to build on Churulo's success.

"You've been a mentor to not only myself, but to everybody here, You've been quite the example to us," Rimbo said. "If I can only do half the job that you did, I believe I'll be very successful in my career as chief."

Churulo came to Lemont in 2004. He served the Romeoville Fire Department for 25 years, 14 as chief.

RELATED STORY: Lemont Fire District Taps Native George Rimbo as Next Chief