More than 150 prospective firefighters turned out in Naperville last weekend to test for 12 openings the department will have next year when it opens its eighth fire station.
Although the turnout was lower than the 300 applicants the department had when it last held the test two years ago, Fire Department officials said they believe they have a large enough pool to select eligible applicants.
“We’re confident the 150 will give us the number we need to develop an eligibility list,” said Assistant Fire Chief Daniel Voiland. The eligibility list, which should be completed in August, will include the names of up to 100 applicants the Fire Department can pick from to fill open positions over the next two years.
The orientation and written exam were held on Saturday, and the physical aptitude test will start on July 11. Eligible applicants will then proceed through a rigorous interview process for a field that Fire Department officials say remains fairly competitive.
“The western suburbs are still growing, so it does allow for the opportunity to hire more people, but there just aren’t thousands and thousands of jobs out there,” Voiland said.
The department expects to have the 12 firefighters in place by early next year, so that they will have time to complete the mandatory 16-week training at a local fire academy before Fire Station 8 opens.
The station is scheduled to open in May near 75th Street and Modaff Road, he said.
“This will allow us to send them for training to our academy to orient them to our department’s operations,” Voiland said.
A specialized rescue engine, now at Fire Station 5 at 87th Street and Plainfield/Naperville Road, will move to Fire Station 8, a more central location in the city, Voiland said.
“It contains a lot of special rescue equipment that is used in heavy rescue situations, and the department only has one,” he said.
Fire Station 8 will not house an ambulance, but the engine will be equipped with paramedic capabilities to deliver advance life-support until an ambulance arrives. Naperville has 120 firefighter/paramedics in the department. The salaries for the 12 entry-level positions will start at a little over $41,000 a year, Voiland said.
