Fire Department · Combination
Geneva Fire Department
Geneva, IL · Kane County
The Geneva Fire Department serves the City and Township of Geneva, Illinois, a community of roughly 24,500 residents in the western Chicago suburbs. Founded in 1895, it operates as a combination department blending career and paid-on-call personnel.
The roster tops 60 members, including two administrators, 20 full-time firefighters, and 46 paid-on-call firefighters, with Advanced Life Support ambulance care delivered through contracted paramedics. Operations run out of two stations with a fleet of engines, a truck, brush, squad, and medic units.
Geneva is an internationally accredited agency through the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CFAI), measuring its service and performance against national best-practice benchmarks. The department also runs an Explorer Post, fire prevention bureau, and life-safety education programs.
MissionWe will be a leader among our peers and to the community through compassion, selflessness and the stewardship of the public's trust.
Career firefighter/paramedic candidates apply through the National Testing Network, which handles the initial written examination; qualified applicants then advance to an oral interview. After a conditional offer, the process includes a polygraph, medical and psychological exams, drug screening, and a background investigation.
Beyond the career track, Geneva hires paid-on-call firefighters as part of its combination staffing model. Applicants must already hold Illinois Firefighter II (or Basic Operations) certification and paramedic-level EMS credentials, and complete a CPAT within 12 months of the deadline.
Requirements
- U.S. citizenship
- At least 21 years of age at time of application and under 35 at time of appointment
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Current State of Illinois Firefighter II or Basic Operations - Firefighter certification
- Illinois EMT-Paramedic certification, or EMT-Basic with enrollment in a paramedic program at time of hire
- Valid driver's license
- CPAT completed within 12 months prior to the application deadline
- Establish residency within 25 miles of the corporate limits of the City of Geneva during the one-year probation
Hiring process
- Apply through the National Testing Network
- Written examination
- Oral interview
- Conditional offer of employment
- Polygraph, medical exam, psychological exam, drug screening, and background investigation
Benefits
Group medical, dental, and life insurance; tuition reimbursement after one year; employee counseling; and eligibility for the Firefighter's Pension Fund. Time off includes 8 Kelly Days annually, 3 personal days, and vacation days beginning after the first year.
How do I apply to become a Geneva firefighter/paramedic?
Career firefighter/paramedic candidates apply through the National Testing Network, which administers the initial written exam before qualified applicants advance to an oral interview.
What are the age requirements?
You must be at least 21 years old at the time of application and under 35 years of age at the time of appointment.
What certifications do I need before applying?
Applicants need current Illinois Firefighter II (or Basic Operations - Firefighter) certification and Illinois EMT-Paramedic certification, or EMT-Basic with enrollment in a paramedic program at time of hire. A valid driver's license and a CPAT completed within 12 months of the deadline are also required.
What is the starting pay?
Starting salary is $76,360, with top pay reached after six years of service.
What is the work schedule?
Firefighters work 24-48 hour shifts and receive 8 Kelly Days per year, plus personal and vacation days.
Do I have to live in Geneva?
New hires must establish residency within 25 miles of the corporate limits of the City of Geneva during the one-year probationary period.