WFRD Personnel

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WFRD currently has many qualified individuals providing service to the community.  Though very generalized, the basic employee classifications include: 

Full-time Employees:  Salaried personnel that generally work a 40-hour workweek during normal business hours, or who are assigned to a scheduled shift working 52 or more hours on the average per week.  These employees maintain continuous, regular employment status and are entitled to employee benefits according to their specific employment contracts. 

WFRD currently has 28 full-time employees including, the Chief, a Deputy Chief, an Administrative Assistant, and 25 firefighter/paramedics.

Part-time Employees:  Non-salaried personnel who work a variety of hours and work schedules, but maintain continuous, regular employment status.  The hours worked by these employees, which average 12 to 15 per week, include those accumulated during response to calls, training sessions, special events, special assignments and those scheduled for the paid-on-premises program.  These employees do not share in most employment benefits, but are entitled to a small life insurance policy.

WFRD currently has 66 part-time employees, including 1 support staff and 4 fire prevention professionals. All of these employees are certified to at least the level of firefighter/emergency medical technician - basic, and about half of them are certified to the paramedic level.

A review of the different certifications for full and part-time firefighter/emergency medical technicians is as follows:

FIREFIGHTER

Firefighters perform a vast variety of diverse functions including, but not limited to, extinguishing fires by advancing and maneuvering hose lines or using portable fire extinguishers; hoisting equipment using rope and selecting/tying knots; carrying, positioning, and raising ground ladders; and operating hand and power tools.  They also predict basic fire behavior and recognize structural instability in various types of situations as well as performing ventilation techniques, and protecting property from fire damage using covers, fans, and other salvage equipment.

Firefighters must be proficient in reading and interpret street maps, equipment diagrams, signs, symbols, placards, and labels for hazardous materials.

Firefighters also complete specialized training to enable them to perform rescue operations using hand and power tools to extricate victims trapped in motor vehicles; perform rescue operations, including climbing ladders up to 100 feet in height while carrying tools, equipment, and victims; dragging and carrying victims; high angle operations using rope and repelling techniques; perform elevator, industrial, ice, and water rescues; perform rescues in cave-ins and other below-grade/confined space emergencies.

And finally, firefighters operates engine or pumper trucks, using hoses, nozzles, and appliances to select, produce, and maintain appropriate water supply by connecting to fire hydrants or utilizing rural water supply operations, and operate aerial ladder apparatus to perform rescue, elevated water application, ventilation, and other duties as required.

Job tasks are generally carried out while wearing, and using personal protective clothing, including firefighting gear, commonly referred to as turn-out gear, and self-contained breathing apparatus, commonly referred to as air-packs.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN

Emergency Medical Technicians provide basic and limited advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who become suddenly ill or injured outside of the hospital.  This individual possesses the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide care in a patient transport situation.  EMTs function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical direction.  The EMT is a link from the scene to the emergency health-care system.

PARAMEDICS

Paramedics provide emergency medical care, including the use of invasive techniques and pharmaceutical interventions, for critical and emergent patients who suddenly become ill or injured outside of the hospital. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide care in a patient transport situation.  Paramedics function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical direction.  Paramedics perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance.  The paramedic provider is a link from the scene to the emergency room.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

In order to provide consistent, efficient, and effective emergency operations, WFRD utilizes a quasi-military organization structure.  The following chart depicts the basic chain-of-command found within the District, but does not represent the exact organizational chart which lists all positions and personnel.  Following the chart is a brief summary of the responsibilities for each position.  More detailed requirements for each position are contained in job descriptions that have been developed for each position.

Board of Trustees

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Chief

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Deputy Chief

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Assistant Chief

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Captain

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Lieutenant

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Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician

BOARD OF TRUSTEES:  As the governing body of the District, the trustees are charged by law with control of the District’s affairs and the provision of fire protection and other emergency services.  Their actual duties are too many to mention, but are spelled out in State laws and generally include establishing a long-range vision for the department, establishing policy, and fiscal control.

CHIEF:  Has direct charge and control of the department subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees.  Shall be responsible for the faithful and efficient conduct and operation of the department in the protection of life and property, through the delivery of services including, but not limited to, fire prevention, fire suppression and rescue, emergency medical services, and public education.

DEPUTY and ASSISTANT CHIEFS:  Perform administrative duties involving the supervision and coordination of fire department activities and is responsible for compliance with departmental policies, procedures, and special instructions.  Includes responsibility for the administration of the department and its various programs, including those related to emergency and non-emergency activities.

Supervise and perform emergency services.  Serve as the incident commander until relieved by a higher authority.  Effectuate and ensure the quality of all operational functions including emergency response, training, public education/relations, and the maintenance of buildings, grounds, and equipment.  Supervise assigned stations, companies, and personnel.

CAPTAIN: Supervises and performs emergency services.  Serves as the incident commander until relieved by a higher authority.  Assists and works with the chief officers to effectuate and ensure the quality of all operational functions including emergency response, training, public education/relations, and the maintenance of buildings, grounds, and equipment.  Supervises assigned companies and personnel and generally reports directly to the Deputy Chief or an Assistant Chief.

LIEUTENANT:  Functions as a company officer and supervises and performs emergency services consisting of fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical services, and mitigation of other emergency situations.  Serves as an immediate supervisor to an assigned group of firefighter/emergency medical technicians and generally reports directly to a Captain.

FIREFIGHTER/EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN:  Generally under the direction of a company officer, engages in work consisting of combating, extinguishing, and preventing fires, responding to calls and rendering emergency medical care.  Maintains department property including apparatus, equipment and grounds.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT:  Responsible for typing, maintenance of confidential records/files, processing mail, answering phones, payroll, accounts payable/receivable, preparation of records, reports and other forms of documentation.  Generally reports directly to the Chief.

SECRETARY/RECEPTIONIST:  Responsible for general typing, processing mail, answering phones, assisting with payroll, accounts payable/receivable, preparation of records, reports and other forms of documentation, and other duties as assigned.  Generally reports directly to the Administrative Assistant.

APPLICATION/HIRING PROCESS

In order to maintain an adequate level of properly trained personnel, WFRD tests for and selects new candidates on a regular basis.  The general application and hiring process is as follows:

Applications for full-time employment are accepted when the District determines the need to fill this type of position and advertises same.

For non-firefighting positions, the advertisement and processing of applications will generally be done in accordance with normally accepted business practices.

For full-time firefighter/paramedic positions, the advertisement, processing, and examination of applications shall be done in accordance with state law, and will be separate from that which is done for part-time and temporary positions.  To be considered for full-time firefighting employment, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age, possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent, possess State of Illinois Firefighter II certification and Paramedic license, possess a valid State of Illinois driver’s license, meet the minimum requirements of firefighter/emergency medical technician job description, and reside no further than 15 air miles from 435 East Judd Street, Woodstock, Illinois (Station 1)..

For part-time firefighter/emergency medical technicians (FF/EMT), applications are generally accepted at all times, however, the District only advertises that applications are being accepted and processes applications on an annual basis.  Processing of applications includes notifying all applicants that the District will be conducting testing for part-time FF/EMT positions.  Testing for these positions shall include a written test, a physical agility test, and an oral interview.  To be considered for part-time employment, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age, possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent, possess a valid State of Illinois driver’s license, and meet the minimum requirements of the firefighter/emergency medical technician job description.

Upon completion of the application process and examination, a list of qualified applicants will be made.  A separate list will be made for each employee classification (i.e., full-time, part-time).  If the District has determined that it will be filing a position(s), applicants will be taken from the list to continue with the hiring process.  Prior to becoming an employee in any fashion, the applicant will receive a conditional offer of employment dependent on the successful completion of a background investigation, physical examination, and other tests as deemed appropriate by the District.