Dolton firefighters are asking the Village Board to replace the interim fire chief it hired, claiming he is unqualified and has failed to meet certification requirements.
The Dolton Professional Firefighters Association picketed Village Hall ahead of a board meeting Monday and raised concerns about broken equipment and poor leadership by Quention “Q” Curtis, who was appointed interim fire chief in September. The union filed a lawsuit last month asking that Curtis be discharged for failing to meet requirements for his position.
Union President and fire Lt. Adam Farej said safety concerns have escalated since Mayor Jason House took office in May, as the village has failed to take action on issues such as broken apparatus and equipment.
“We have not had a department meeting to figure out what the plan is to assist with fixing this,” Farej said Wednesday. “We think there’s a lot of leadership failures right there with that, and with those leadership failures, obviously it’s putting our safety at risk and it’s also putting the residents’ safety at risk.”
Farej said the fire union has tried to work with House’s administration, freezing a grievance the union filed in 2024 related to rig maintenance issues to give the new mayor and his team time to address financial mismanagement alleged under former Mayor Tiffany Henyard.
But almost a year later, he and other union members say village officials have failed to follow through on promises to improve their working conditions.
The union also expressed concern that Curtis has not completed certifications required under state law. They also say he has continued serving past the expiration of his interim appointment, which is 180 days.
“There’s no communication, there’s no accountability,” Farej said.
Village attorney Michael McGrath said Monday that Curtis, who founded the Black Fire Brigade and is a former Chicago firefighter, meets all required criteria for interim fire chief.
House said Curtis has helped the village save about $30,000 per month by cutting firefighter’s overtime and is working to receive the certifications required by state law.
House said his administration inherited equipment issues they are working to address as quickly as possible while ensuring the village remains fiscally responsible.
“We’re doing our best to live within our means and make sure we are helping all departments be safe and productive,” he said.
Village officials are working behind the scenes to solve issues brought forward by the union, he said.
Many Dolton residents spoke out in support of the firefighters at Monday’s board meeting, asking the village to improve its treatment of them after previous contention with Henyard’s administration.
“The Dolton community appreciates our firefighters and everything they do to keep us safe, but they need to be kept safe themselves,” said resident Mary Avent, who is also a Thornton Township trustee. “They should not be forced to go into emergencies with damaged or broken equipment. They need a department and a leader who will listen to them and have their backs.”
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Charlotte Williams reminded House that under Henyard, firefighters worked without a contract for multiple years and campaigned in favor of House and current village trustees as they sought election last year.
“They deserve to be respected,” Williams said.
Fire Capt. Jermel Brim, the union secretary, said House’s administration showed inconsistency in hiring Curtis after previously criticizing Henyard’s appointment of a former police chief.
“The requirements we’re talking about for the fire chief are not guidelines, they are legal standards intended to ensure that the individual serving as fire chief possesses the necessary experience, training and competency needed to lead a fire department effectively,” he said.
Farej said firefighters are grateful for the support received from Dolton residents and will continue fighting for better leadership of their department.
“I definitely think we’re at the point of no return, and we do need a new person in that position,” Farej said. “At the end of the day, the fire service has standards, and anybody in this job knows we should uphold a standard, and this guy does not meet the qualifications.”