As a kid, Andrew Tomelloso experienced a traumatic incident that involved Dixon firefighters saving the life of his twin brother.
These days, he not only serves with the Dixon Fire Department but has been named its Firefighter of the Year. Talk about coming full circle.
“It’s been a long journey,” he said. “It’s different every day. I really enjoy helping people. That’s the big thing we get from the job, just helping people.”
Born and raised in Dixon, Tomelloso has deep roots in the community and service in his blood.
His mom is a veteran in the healthcare field, serving as a licensed vocational nurse with Kaiser Permanente. Her dedication to caring for others inspired the same in him.
Plus, there’s that incident when he was just 4 years old.
“He died,” he said, of his brother, who developed cerebral palsy. “The firefighters down the street saved him.”