Chicago Ridge Fire Department

Chicago Ridge Fire Department

Chicago Ridge, Illinois

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the Village of Chicago Ridge, Illinois is accepting appointment(s) to the position of firefighter/paramedic with the Chicago Ridge Fire Department.

Population: 14,576
Sworn Fire Service Personnel: 19
Salary: $74,263

Plus:

• 11 paid holidays
• Clothing allowance is $950.00
• 1 personal day
• 8 work reduction days
• Earn up to 480 hours of compensatory time
• Education allowance $3,000
• Vacation days
• Certified educational stipends
• 6 longevity steps
• BC/BS Insurance

All Applicants Must Meet the Following Minimum Requirements established by the Village of Chicago Ridge:

• Citizenship:  Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Driver’s License:  Must possess a valid Driver’s License at the time of application with the ability to obtain an Illinois Driver’s License upon time of hire.
• Age Requirement:  Applicants must have attained their 21^st birthday by the date of testing (May 16, 2026) and must be under the age of 35 years at time of testing and at such time as the final eligibility list is posted, unless exempt by State Statute 65 IL 5/10 – 2. 1-6 which provides, in part, that the age limitation does not apply to any person previously employed as a certified full-time firefighter in a regularly constituted fire department of any municipality or fire protection district located in Illinois.
• Education:  Must have proof of High School Diploma, GED Certificate or High School Proficiency Statement.
• Language:  Must be able to speak, read and write English language fluently.
• Residence:  Must reside in the State of Illinois within six months following the probationary period.
• Paramedic Certification: Must be a certified Paramedic by the State of Illinois or possess a National License at time of hire.  At time of application, must show proof of paramedic license (EMT-P) - OR - be enrolled in and currently attending an accredited Paramedic program and provide proof of enrollment at time of application.
• CPAT Card with Ladder Climb:  Must possess a CPAT Card with Ladder Climb prior to the written exam and issued between May 16, 2025 and May 16, 2026;
• Must successfully pass a written examination on May 16, 2026;
• Must successfully complete an oral interview, background investigation, medical examination, drug testing, polygraph, and psychological examination;
• Pay a $5.00 non-refundable application processing fee.  

Preference points will be awarded as determined by the Village of Chicago Ridge for any one the following:

• Military Preference – Awarded to applicants who have served a minimum of 12 months of active duty in the service of the U.S. Military and who have either been honorable discharged or, in lieu of an honorable discharge, are still serving in an active or inactive reserve status.
• Education – Candidates must have an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science or Emergency Medical Services from an accredited Community or Junior College or a Bachelor’s Degree in any field.
• Additional Points – Applicants must be certified or licensed by the State of Illinois as a Firefighter II, Firefighter III, and /or an EMT-P at the time of application.
• Service Points – Applicant must be currently employed in a part-time basis with the Chicago Ridge Fire Department.

Submission of Application

Applications MUST be submitted online by Monday, May 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM (CST).  Faxed, e-mailed, mailed or dropped off applications will NOT be accepted. Applications submitted after the deadline will NOT be accepted. Only one application per person, per testing cycle will be accepted. 

Mandatory Orientation and Written Examination Testing: Following completion of all application materials and review of minimum qualifications, successful applicants will be invited to attend the following:

Clear your calendar and make sure you are available on the following date:  All candidates will receive an email approximately one week prior regarding their status in the process. NOTE: PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR EMAIL SPAM FOLDER AS SOMETIMES EMAIL PROVIDERS (SUCH AS GMAIL, YAHOO, ETC.) SEND OUR EMAILS DIRECTLY TO SPAM.