Municipal fire department · Illinois · United States

Chicago Fire Department

The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) is one of the oldest organised municipal fire services in the United States, tracing continuous service to 1858. It protects the City of Chicago — about 234 square miles and 2.7 million residents — with roughly 5,000 sworn members across fire suppression, paramedic and EMT-level ambulance service, and specialised units including marine and hazardous-materials response. The department operates from approximately 95 firehouses and fields a fleet of engines, trucks, ambulances, and specialty apparatus. Recruitment to the firefighter and firefighter-EMT roles in Chicago is run by the Chicago Department of Human Resources via a posted entrance examination. Candidates progress through a written assessment, the Chicago Physical Abilities Test (a variant of the national CPAT), medical and drug screening, a background investigation, and a panel interview. Successful candidates attend the CFD Training Academy, where coursework spans structural firefighting, EMS certification, vehicle extrication, and hazmat awareness. Entrance exam announcements are infrequent — sign up for notifications on the official CFD recruitment page so you don't miss the next window. Bluewatch is a directory and links to the official application portal.