Hinsdale FD Promotes Two Veteran Firefighters to Captain, Lieutenant

Editor's note: The following is a release from the Hinsdale Fire Department. It details one new hire at the department and two internal promotions that have followed  Since these moves have been made, , meaning more personnel moves are likely on the way.

Last month, the hired a new member, firefighter/paramedic Nick McDonough, and promoted firefighter/paramedic Bill Claybrook to the rank of lieutenant, and Lieutenant Dave DeWolf to the rank of captain earlier this month.

All three were officially sworn in at Tuesday night’s Board of Trustees meeting.

Short bios on the three new positions are listed below.

Probationary firefighter/paramedic Nicholas McDonough

Probationary firefighter/paramedic Nick McDonough was born and raised in Lemont, Ill. He graduated from Lemont High School in 2002, earned a bachelor of arts degree with a major in media communications from Northern Illinois University in 2007, and received an associate’s degree in fire science from College of DuPage in 2009.

McDonough received his paramedic schooling from Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, and has been a licensed paramedic for the last two years. He achieved his Illinois state fire marshall basic firefighting certification from the Romeoville Fire Academy and was a member of the Northwest Homer Fire Protection District prior to being hired by the Village of Hinsdale.

McDonough has two younger siblings and currently lives in Wheaton, Ill., with his fiancée, Jessi. When he’s not planning for their November wedding day, McDonough plays the drums in a band and works a sideline camera for the Chicago White Sox home games.

Lt. Bill Claybrook

Lt. Bill Claybrook joined the Hinsdale Fire Department in 1998. During his time in Hinsdale, he has been intimately involved in several key initiatives within the department. He developed and advocated a college publication education program, a nationally-recognized program that helps prepare college-bound kids for fire safety while living away from home. Claybrook is currently the official grant writer, is a member of the Firefighters' Pension Board, and is in the process of creating an officer-development program for the fire department.

Claybrook has been a firefighter/paramedic for the past 13 years and holds many certifications from the Illinois State Fire Marshall’s Office, including a Fire Officer I designation. 

Claybrook earned his bachelor of science degree from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in management and organizational development from Benedictine. He and his wife, Michelle, are expecting their third son in November. They live in New Lenox with their two sons, Johnathan and Nathan.

Captain Dave DeWolf

Capt. Dave DeWolf started his fire-service career with the Hinsdale Fire Department as a firefighter in 1986. He became the department’s fire investigator in 1997, and was promoted to lieutenant in 2003. For over 25 years, he has served the Hinsdale community with pride and professionalism. He earned an associate’s degree in architectural technology from Triton College, holds several fire certifications including Fire Officer I and Fire Officer II from the Illinois State Fire Marshall’s Office, and has been an emergency medical technician for over 25 years.

DeWolf is one of the state’s leading experts in fire investigations. He served as president of the MABAS Division 10 Cause and Origin Team, is both a National an International Association Fire and Explosives Investigator, and is one of the commanders of the DuPage County Fire Investigation Task Force. Throughout DeWolf’s illustrious fire-service career, he has investigated over 1,000 structure-related fires. On his days off, he works as an investigator for Hoyle & Associates, a nationally known fire and explosion consultant firm.

DeWolf has been married to his wife, Jan, for 29 years and together they live in Darien. They have two children, Mike and Lauren.