Andrew Sline was sworn in as Homewood’s newest full time firefighter/paramedic, resuming a family tradition of service to the village.

Sline is the third generation of his family to serve as a firefighter in Homewood. His grandfather, John Elashik Sr., was on hand to congratulate his grandson at the village board meeting Tuesday, July 9.

Elashik served the department for 25 years, including a stint as assistant chief. His son and Sline’s uncle, John Elashik Jr., started with the department in 2004 and is now a captain. Elashik Jr. and Sline’s father, Craig Sline, a sergeant with the Homewood Police Department, were also in the audience to support Sline.

The connections go back further. Elashik Sr.’s father, Sline’s great-grandfather, worked for the nearby Homewood Acres Volunteer fire department. 

Andrew worked as a part-time Firefighter/EMT for the Homewood Fire Department from 2021 until the part-time program was disbanded in August 2023, according to Fire Chief Bob Grabowski. 

Sline waited on the eligibility list until his name reach the top recently. He started full time with the department on June 3. In the interim, he served with the Crete Township Fire Protection District. 

In his introduction at the board meeting, Grabowski noted that Sline is a lifelong Homewood resident and graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor High School.

“Andrew has aspired to be a Homewood firefighter as long as he can remember,” Grabowski said. “He grew up hearing all the great stories of the Homewood Fire Department from his grandfather and his uncle. Andrew has been coming around the fire department consistently since he was 10 years old.” 

Sline also joined the Glenwood Fire Department cadet program when he was 16.