The borough’s firefighter of the year for 2007 has resigned to take on a new role in his family’s funeral home business.

Dan Ford, 33, of Cheshire, handed in his resignation last week to Fire Chief Charles Doback Jr. Ford has been a firefighter here for 11 years.

Ford, who grew up in Naugatuck, has helped organize the fire department’s toy drive at Christmas, which allows thousands of local children to have a better holiday. He has also coached youth baseball and participated in several charitable events in the past decade.

Ford, a married father of three young children, has been working two full-time jobs for several years. Besides working as a firefighter, he has been a funeral home director for his father’s company, Alderson and Slater funeral homes.

In March, Ford was given the firefighter of the year award at the Naugatuck Exchange Club’s Community Champions Banquet. The club chose Ford for his service to the community.

He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and is vice president of the Funeral Directors Association for the state.