Firefighter

The Sterling Fire Department is looking for quality candidates to join our team. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage all eligible, able-bodied persons with an interest in fire service to apply.

If you or someone you know are interested please contact us for more information on starting a rewarding career:

Email:

firepolicehiring@sterling-il.gov

It is the mission of the Sterling Fire Department to protect life and property, through aggressive fire suppression, fire prevention, education and emergency medical services.

The City of Sterling Fire Department operates out of two fire stations, one is located in the heart of downtown while the second station is located in the east end where businesses are growing. Sterling Fire is a member of MABAS Division 30. The fire department also provides fire and rescue services for the Sterling Rural area.

The Sterling Fire Department employs 20 full time firefighters including the Fire Chief. The staff includes:

• 1 Deputy Chief
• 3 Captains
• 3 Lieutenants
• 12 Firefighters

Various specialty certifications can be obtained.

Public Oriented:

Sterling Fire Department conducts annual fire safety inspections of all businesses in the fire protection area.

Area kindergarteners are taught everything from their address to the use of 911 and fire safety on a monthly basis.

Safety presentations and fire extinguisher training is done for area nursing homes and businesses at their request.

Minimum Qualifications:

There are certain qualifications that an applicant must meet in order to become a Sterling firefighter. The qualifications set forth are established the Board of Fire & Police Commissioners Rules and Regulations, the City of Sterling ordinances, and all applicable state statutes.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR FIREFIGHTER:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin or military status.

1. Citizenship:  Must be a citizen of the United States at time of filing formal application.
2. Residence: Residence in the City of Sterling is NOT required prior to employment. Residency within a 20 minute response time of the main fire station as calculated by MapQuest or Google Maps is required within one year of employment.
3. Age:  Not less than twenty-one years of age and have not reached thirty-fifth birthday.
4. Sex:  Male and female applicants are eligible.
5. Education:  Must have a minimum of a high school education or a GED certificate.
6. General Physical Condition:  Must be able to demonstrate physical agility and muscular coordination; and pass a rigid physical examination as outlined in materials provided.
7. Vision:  Visual acuity must be 20/20 or correctable to 20/20 normal color vision/depth perception.  Contact lenses are permitted with the above requirements.
8. Height and Weight:  No minimum or maximum requirement however must be comparable to overall size and body structure.
9. Miscellaneous:  Positively no deviation or exception on any requirements.  At the time of examination you will be required to furnish the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners with a copy of your birth certificate, high school diploma or GED certificate and military DD214 form.  These documents become the property of the Fire and Police Commissioners.
10. Veterans and Educational Preference:  Preference points are added to the test score in accordance with Illinois law.

The testing process to become a firefighter has several steps:

• Application
• Written Test
• Oral Interview
• Background Investigation
• Polygraph Examination
• Psychological Examination
• Medical Exam including drug screen

Eligibility List:

All candidates that successfully pass the testing process are placed on an eligibility list, according to their final score, that remains in effect for two years. Appointments are then made from this list, as openings exist, contingent upon successful passage of all phases of the examination process. Once an opening exists on the department, the next eligible candidate will be contacted.

Background Investigation:

An in-depth background investigation will be conducted by the Board of Fire & Police Commission.

Polygraph Examination:

The candidate will be scheduled for a polygraph examination. This test must successfully be passed for further consideration.

Psychological Examination:

The candidate will be scheduled for a psychological examination. This test must successfully be passed for further consideration.

Medical Examination:

The candidate will be scheduled for a physical examination. An extensive physical examination to include drug screening is required by the Board of Fire & Police Commission to determine fitness to perform the duties of a firefighter.

Fire Academy:

Upon completion of the academy, a recruit firefighter will begin a period of “on the job” training. During this time the recruit will be taught various aspects of the job as well as being evaluated regularly.

Probation:

A probationary period of 12 months shall be completed. This period may be extended by a period of time equivalent to the time spent attending the fire academy.

Firefighter Applicant Instructions:

Mandatory orientation testing will be held on:

Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 8:30 AM

Challand Middle School

1700 6th Avenue

Sterling, IL 61081

Check in will start at 8:15 AM

Testing will immediately follow the orientation.

PLEASE BE PROMPT!

The agility test will be at 9:00 AM and the written to follow. If you have a valid CPAT card you do not need to be present for the agility test. You must show valid CPAT card the day of the testing.

Please complete and return the attached application no later than 4:00 PM on Thursday, December 1, 2022 to:

Sterling Police Department Administration office

212 3rd Avenue

Sterling, IL

Download:

FIREFIGHTER APPLICATION

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO BE TURNED IN WITH COMPLETED APPLICATION:

It is your responsibility to provide the following documents to the Fire & Police Commission. If these documents are not provided with the application, your application will not be accepted.

• High School diploma or GED certificate (copy)
• Certified Birth Certificate (copy)
• College or University degree (copy)
• Veterans: Military Service record and DD214 (copy)
• EMT-P or EMT-B certification (copy)
• Firefighter Basic or Advanced certification (copy) – if applicable
• Driver’s license (color copy of both sides)
• Citizenship and/or naturalization papers – if applicable
• Social security card (copy)

Firefighter Physical Ability Test

Positively NO deviation or exception on any requirement.

ALL documents become the property of the Sterling Fire & Police Commission.

Listing for test results will not be available for at least two weeks after the testing date.

Any questions, please call Sara at:

815-632-6600 

Thank you for your interest in the Sterling Fire Department.