FAQ
History
The Ottawa Fire Department was established in 1857 and became a full time paid city fire department in 1895. We currently provide Fire Suppression, Rescue, Fire Prevention and Education, and Advanced ILS Emergency Medical Services. Currently the Fire Department operates from two stations with two class A fire engines(certified as ILS Engines by Ill. Dept. of Public Health), a reserve engine, a 100ft. aerial platform, two ILS transport ambulances, and a rescue boat.
Manpower
We are currently staffed by 29 highly trained and state certified personnel. The Ottawa Fire Department has the distinction of being the only full time paid fire department providing emergency medical services in the Interstate 39 corridor between Rockford and Bloomington (135 mi.), and the Interstate 80 corridor between Joliet and the Quad Cities (130 mi.). Our current staffing is set at 1 Chief of the Department, 3 Shift Commanders (Captains), 6 company officers (Lieutenants) and 19 firefighters.
Our firefighters are all certified in accordance with the Illinois State Fire Marshal Certification Program at the Illinois Certified Firefighter II level or above. We currently have 28 firefighters at the Certified Firefighter II level, 28 firefighters at the Certified Firefighter III level, 17 firefighters at the Certified Fire Officer I level and 2 firefighters at the Certified Fire Officer II level. 29 firefighters are certified in Hazardous Materials at Level I or above. Several of our firefighters also have certifications in Specialized Skills Areas. We have several firefighters with Associate, and Bachelor Degrees in Fire Science, and the current Fire Chief holds a Masters Degree in Management.
Currently 28 firefighters are licensed as Intermediate Advanced Life Support Medics and 1 is licensed as EMT-B Level Medics. An agreement between the City of Ottawa and Community Hospital of Ottawa provides up to date training for our Personnel by Hospital EMS personnel and physicians on a weekly basis that meets and exceeds Illinois Department of Public Health requirements.