Fire Department Training

The DeKalb Fire Department Training Division facilitates basic and continuing training to all line personnel. Training is delivered through a combination of internal and external training sources through scheduled and shift initiated training activities.

Basic Training

Basic training includes recruit firefighters and newly promoted fire officers. It takes approximately 3 years to complete the basic training required for recruit firefighters. It takes approximately 3 years to complete the basic training required for promoted officers also.

Almost all of the basic training courses for both recruit firefighters and newly promoted officers are provided externally. Those courses are typically delivered through the Southern Kane County Training Association (SKCTA) located in North Aurora, Illinois.

Continuing Training
Continuing training involves all line (shift) personnel. Continuing training is broken down into 2 elements: scheduled training and non-scheduled training.

Scheduled Training
Scheduled training includes:
  • Bimonthly Hazardous Materials and Technical Rescue on-going orientation training
  • Monthly continuing medical education classes
  • Monthly fire training classes
  • Shift delivered training (topic and support material supplied through monthly training packets)
Delivery of scheduled monthly fire, Hazardous Materials, and Technical Rescue courses are provided by the department's Training Officer and various Fire Department officers and firefighters. Monthly continuing medical education classes are presented by instructors from the Kishwaukee Emergency Medical Services System.

Shift Officers (Lieutenants and Captains) serve as instructors for the delivery of shift delivered training. Monthly fire training packet activities are developed by the department's Training Officer.