THE FOLLOWING IS A YVORRA LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION RELEASE
The Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation (YLD) is proud to announce that the Danville, Illinois, Fire Department has been awarded the first fully funded Chief Alan Brunacini Special Projects Award. Danville Fire Department was selected for its proposal to implement a Blue Card Training Program for all members.
The Chief Alan Brunacini Special Projects Program was introduced as part of the YLD Awards and Scholarships Program in 2024. This program supports initiatives that enhance training, education, and leadership development in the fire and emergency services sector. Successful projects must demonstrate a clear plan for sharing their results and work products with the public safety community on a not-for-profit basis.
“Chief Alan ‘Bruno’ Brunacini’s contributions to the fire service are immeasurable. This award program continues his legacy by fostering innovative leadership within our community. The Danville proposal includes Blue Card training, a program that was very important to Chief Bruno,” said Michael Hildebrand, President of YLD.
The Blue Card Training Program provides critical training for fire officers to lead their teams effectively during the first few minutes of an emergency. Danville’s project aims to train all department members in Blue Card, ensuring that everyone—regardless of rank—can use common terminology and share a unified understanding of incident command procedures. To fully fund the initiative, Danville Fire Department will provide additional cost-sharing beyond the $10,000 YLD award, bringing the total project cost to $18,000.
The Danville Fire Department is a full-time career department serving 16.8 square miles with 24/7 fire suppression, technical rescue, and EMS services. The department operates from three fire stations, staffed by 45 career firefighters and maintains an ISO rating of 3. Firefighters work on a 24/48 schedule across three shifts, each with 15 personnel (minimum staffing of 12). The department responds with:
- Three engines
- One truck company
- One command vehicle
- Two reserve engines and one reserve aerial unit
The department is led by Fire Chief Aaron Marcott.
The Blue Card Training Program will be managed by Captain Ryan Allison, the department’s designated training officer. A 17-year veteran of the Danville Fire Department, Captain Allison has spent the past two years leading department training.
“Although the Blue Card system focuses on fire incidents, it applies to all-hazard emergencies. It enhances our preparedness for any public safety incident. Through hands-on training, we will also integrate our program with local law enforcement partners, strengthening their leadership and response capabilities,” said Captain Allison.
Each year, YLD recognizes emerging and developing leaders in fire, EMS, hazmat, emergency management, and homeland security through scholarships and awards. In 2024, YLD awarded $44,000 in scholarships to seven individuals and two departments.
The application period for a YLD Scholarship runs from August 1 to October 30. For more information, visit YLD.org.
