CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Andy Quarnstrom has been fighting fires for nearly three decades, first as a firefighter and currently as the Champaign Fire Chief.

He announced his retirement Wednesday. After 28 years, he said it's his colleagues, both past and present, that have kept him going this long.

Quarnstrom is the first Champaign firefighter to reach the rank of Chief in almost five decades. He said within his tenure, he’s proud to have overseen the remodeling of all of Champaign’s fire stations, manage the department's COVID-19 response team and start the department's first internal fire academy.

While his role as Chief keeps him in an office most of the time, he still goes out to active fires, which he said is his true passion at the end of the day. He said, although it’s bitterswee

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