Holomy Retiring as Effingham Fire Chief (UPDATED TO INCLUDE INTERVIEW)

(EFFINGHAM FIRE CHIEF JOE HOLOMY IN RECENT YEARS AT A SPECIAL WELCOME HOME PARADE FOR CANCER SURVIVOR LUKE JOHNSON)

Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy has announced plans to retire.

The chief, in a Facebook post and in an e-mail to the City on Friday, said his decision came after "a great deal of thought and soul searching". His retirement is effective August 24.

Holomy was hired in late 2004 and has instituted a number of changes that have helped reduce the City's ISO rating to a "2", highly unusual for a community the size of Effingham. The lowered ISO rating, which has dropped twice during Holomy's tenure, has helped lower insurance rates for many.

Holomy has been in the fire service since 1976. He and his wife, Mary, have a son Matt who is also in emergency services in northern Illinois. He is a past president of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association.

Here's Greg Sapp's interview with Fire Chief Joe Holomy after Tuesday night's City Council meeting...