Emergency Response
With its lights and sirens, Countryside's Emergency Response Division is probably the division the public is most familiar with. The Division is responsible for "all hazards" response including fires and alarms, emergency medical incidents, hazardous materials, and water rescue as well as service calls like home lockouts and problems with smoke detectors.
Countryside's full-time personnel work a rotating schedule of 24 hours on duty/48 hours off, and part-time personnel supplement staffing by working 12-hour shifts. Daily shift staffing ranges from ten to fourteen fire personnel on duty at Countryside's two stations, not counting the firemedics assigned to administration and fire prevention.
All full-time personnel are certified to a minimum level of Firefighter II and are also licensed paramedics (Countryside has coined the term "firemedic" to describe that combination), though many hold more advanced certifications. Part-time personnel are also trained to a minimum level of of Firefighter II, and those hired since 2004 are also required to maintain licensure at the emergency medical technician (EMT) level or above.
Fire certification requirements are established by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The progression of certifications is Firefighter 2, Firefighter 3, Fire Officer 1 (includes Fire Instructor 1), Fire Officer 2 (includes Fire Instructor 2), and Fire Officer 3. EMS licensure at the emergency medical technician or paramedic level is granted by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and Countryside's EMS personnel are authorized to practice and provided medical direction through the Advocate Condell Medical Center EMS System.
Cooperative Responses (Automatic & Mutual Aid)
To better serve its customers and maintain shorter response times, the District believes in sending the closest available response units. To accomplish that, the District has automatic response agreements (ARAs) with neighboring departments to respond to various areas of the District. These include the Mundelein Fire Department, Libertyville Fire Department, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District, and Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department. In exchange for those ARA responses, Countryside responds to various calls within those departments' jurisdictions.
In addition to responding to emergencies within the District and ARA areas, Countryside also responds to mutual aid calls within the region as a member department of both the Lake & McHenry Counties Specialized Response Teams and Division 4 of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). Countryside has also provided personnel and apparatus for Illinois task force responses to the Gulf Coast for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Gustav.
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| Click on bold names to email. | Click on bold names to email. | Click on bold names to email. | ||
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| Brian Garrity Battalion Chief Serving Since 1989 23 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Maintenance Officer |
Chris Reynolds Battalion Chief Serving Since 1982 27 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Technical Rescue Tech Medical Officer Community Risk Officer |
Ed Heinz Battalion Chief Serving Since 2000 12 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Hazmat Technician Wildland Firefighter Safety Officer |
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| Ron Neubauer Lieutenant Serving Since 1977 32 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic AS Fire Service Management Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Inspector 2 Fire Investigator Instructor Fire Prevention Officer 2 Advanced Evidence Tech Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist Technical Rescue Tech Wildland Firefighter Fire Investigator Strike Force Member, National Fire Protection Association Member, Northern Illinois Fire Inspectors Association Preplans |
Chuck Smith Lieutenant Serving Since 1997 12 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic BS Fire Service Management Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Prevention Officer 1 Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist Wildland Firefighter SCBA |
Jim Weber Lieutenant Serving Since 1992 25 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic AAS Fire Science Fire Apparatus Engineer Diver Radios |
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| Tony DeRose Lieutenant Serving Since 1998 11 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Technical Rescue Tech Fire & Rescue Equipment |
Ron Echtenacher Lieutenant Serving Since 2003 11 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic AS Fire Science Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Prevention Officer 1 Technical Rescue Tech Member, Illinois Society of Fire Service Instructors Quartermaster |
Dan Ogurek Lieutenant Serving Since 2002 10 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic AS EMS Fire Apparatus Engineer Wildland Firefighter Carseat Technician |
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| Mike Dovel Firemedic Serving Since 2006 7 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic AAS Fire Science Technology Fire Apparatus Engineer Diver Carseat Technician EMS Training |
Ryan Bene Firemedic Serving Since 2008 7 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Wildland Firefighter |
John "Russ" Bach Firemedic Serving Since 2001 11 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic AAS Fire Science Technology Fire Apparatus Engineer Technical Rescue Tech EMS Training Extinguishers & Foam |
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| Rodney Edwards Firemedic Serving Since 2003 7 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic BS Anthropology Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Instructor 1 BLS Instructor Carseat Technician Small Tools |
Clayton Booth Firemedic Serving Since 2006 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic |
Jessica Gregurich Firemedic/Telecommunicator Serving Since 2001 10 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Wildland Firefighter Advanced Emergency Medical Dispatch Training Records |
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| Byron Johnson Firemedic Serving Since 2009 8 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer |
Frank Faamasino Firemedic Serving Since 2004 5 Years Experience Fire Officer 1 Provisional/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Prevention Officer 1 |
Mike Prosi Firemedic Serving Since 1999 16 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer EMS Equipment |
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| Mike Lynn Firemedic Serving Since 2000 12 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic Hazmat Technician Radiological/Nuclear Awareness Trainer Radios & Vehicle Emergency Lighting |
Jason Masheris Firemedic Serving Since 2004 9 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic BA Fine Arts Fire Apparatus Engineer Wildland Firefighter Diver Swiftwater Rescue 2 Carseat Technician Peer Fitness Trainer Divemaster |
Mike Raasch Firemedic Serving Since 2003 6 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Carseat Technician Assistant Quartermaster Buildings & Grounds |
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| Pat Michelau Firemedic Serving Since 1979 30 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Maintenance Small Tools |
Phil Obos Firemedic Serving Since 1993 16 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Instructor 2 Fire Investigator Diver Hazmat Technician Member, National Association of Fire Investigators Member, Northern Illinois Fire Inspectors Association Dry Hydrants Hazmat Equipment |
Danny Roark Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2006 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT Wildland Firefighter BLS Instructor |
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| Dan Prezell Firemedic Serving Since 2005 4 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic BS History & Political Science |
Brian Ondrako Firemedic Serving Since 2005 4 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic B Business Administration Wildland Firefighter |
Joel Severin Firemedic Serving Since 2005 4 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Wildland Firefighter BLS Instructor |
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| Andy Rubenstein Firemedic Serving Since 2008 5 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic |
Joe Schramm Firemedic Serving Since 2003 6 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Advanced Hazmat Life Support IT Assistant |
John Sherwood Firemedic Serving Since 2005 14 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic AAS Fire Science Fire Apparatus Engineer Hazmat Technician Hose & Ladders |
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| Melissa Sosnoski Firemedic Serving Since 2004 8 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer BLS Instructor Carseat Technician Peer Fitness Trainer |
Greg Spencer Firemedic Serving Since 2000 12 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer ACLS/PALS Instructor |
Mark Skala Firemedic Serving Since 1998 11 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Wildland Firefighter Carseat Technician |
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| Bill Wolff Firemedic Serving Since 1996 13 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic BA Marketing & Sales Management Fire Apparatus Engineer Wildland Firefighter BLS Instructor |
Jered Woodward Firemedic Serving Since 2009 2 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic AAS Fire Science AAS Emergency Medical Technology |
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| Dan Bailey Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2006 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
Chris Carlson Firefighter Serving Since 1993 16 Years Experience Firefighter 3 Fire Apparatus Engineer |
Rob Elkins Firemedic Serving Since 2005 4 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Emergency Vehicle Technician Special Teams Mechanic |
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| Clifton Englund Firemedic Serving Since 2006 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic |
Phil Fox Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2005 8 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
Joe Frice Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2007 2 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
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| Jessica Johnson Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2008 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2/EMT NASM Personal Trainer NESTA Personal Trainer |
Chuck Kamminga Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 1998 11 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT Fire Apparatus Engineer |
Mike Kamminga Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2008 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
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| Bryan Koza Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2008 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
Jason Lock Firemedic Serving Since 2002 7 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic/RN |
Bruce Mahrenholz Firefighter Serving Since 1994 15 Years Experience Firefighter 3 Fire Apparatus Engineer |
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| Ryan Mastandrea Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2008 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
Chad McCormick Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2008 2 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
Dan McInerney Firemedic Serving Since 1997 12 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Hazmat Technician |
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| Larry Ofiara Firefighter Serving Since 2003 6 Years Experience Firefighter 2/RN BA Fine Arts ACLS/PALS Instructor BLS Instructor |
Mark Olakowski Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2006 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT AS Fire Science |
Andy Rick Firemedic Serving Since 2006 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic BA Health Promotions Fire Apparatus Engineer ACE Personal Trainer |
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| Tim Rick Firemedic Serving Since 1980 29 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer |
Danny Runions Jr. Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2008 7 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT BS Recreation, Park & Tourism Administration with Fire Administration Minor BLS Instructor |
Tim Scardina Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2006 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT BS Criminal Justice |
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| Dave Senescu Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 1993 16 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT Wildland Firefighter |
Mark Speckan Firefighter Serving Since 1989 20 Years Experience Firefighter 2 |
Brian Steen Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2008 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
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| Jeff Thier Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2003 6 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT Wildland Firefighter BLS Instructor |
Bryan Zirzow Firemedic Serving Since 1993 16 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Airport Firefighter |
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