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 25 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Apparatus Fleet Maintenance |
Chris Reynolds Battalion Chief Serving Since 1982 29 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Technical Rescue Tech Community Risk Officer Medical Officer |
Ed Heinz Battalion Chief Serving Since 2000 14 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Hazmat Technician Wildland Firefighter Fire Equipment Health & Safety Officer |
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| Tony DeRose Lieutenant Serving Since 1998 13 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Technical Rescue Tech Peer Fitness Program Specialized Rescue Operations |
Chuck Smith Lieutenant Serving Since 1997 14 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic BS Fire Service Management Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Prevention Officer 1 Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist Side Scan Sonar Tech Wildland Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment |
Jim Weber Lieutenant Serving Since 1992 27 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic AAS Fire Science Fire Apparatus Engineer Diver Radios |
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| Dan Ogurek Lieutenant Serving Since 2002 12 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic AS EMS Fire Apparatus Engineer Wildland Firefighter Carseat Technician Health & Safety |
Ron Echtenacher Lieutenant Serving Since 2003 13 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 Training |
John "Russ" Bach Lieutenant Serving Since 2001 13 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic AAS Fire Science Technology Fire Apparatus Engineer Technical Rescue Tech EMS Training SCBA |
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| Mike Dovel Firemedic Serving Since 2006 9 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic AAS Fire Science Technology Fire Apparatus Engineer Diver Carseat Technician Hand Tools Wildland Team |
Ryan Bene Firemedic Serving Since 2008 9 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Wildland Firefighter |
John Burmeister Firemedic Serving Since 2010 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic BA Business Management |
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| Rodney Edwards Firemedic Serving Since 2003 9 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic BS Anthropology Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Instructor 1 BLS Instructor Carseat Technician Vehicle Inventory |
Frank Faamasino Firemedic Serving Since 2004 13 Years Experience Fire Officer 1 Provisional/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Prevention Officer 1 Facilities Ladders |
Rob Elkins Firemedic Serving Since 2005 6 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Emergency Vehicle Technician Special Teams Mechanic Fleet Maintenance |
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| Byron Johnson Firemedic Serving Since 2009 10 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Facilities |
Jason Masheris Firemedic Serving Since 2004 11 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic BA Fine Arts Fire Apparatus Engineer Wildland Firefighter Diver Swiftwater Rescue 2 Carseat Technician Peer Fitness Trainer Divemaster |
Jessica Gregurich Firemedic/Telecommunicator Serving Since 2002 12 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Wildland Firefighter Advanced Emergency Medical Dispatch Training Records Uniforms |
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| Mike Lynn Firemedic Serving Since 2000 14 Years Experience Fire Officer 1/Paramedic Hazmat Technician Radiological/Nuclear Awareness Trainer Radios |
Chad McCormick Firemedic Serving Since 2008 4 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic |
Bryan Koza Firemedic Serving Since 2008 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic |
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| Ryan Mastandrea Firemedic Serving Since 2008 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic |
Phil Obos Firemedic Serving Since 1993 18 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 Hazmat Team |
Mike Prosi Firemedic Serving Since 1999 18 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer EMS Quality Improvement EMS Training |
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| Pat Michelau Firemedic Serving Since 1979 32 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Gas-Powered Tools Hand Tools |
Brian Ondrako Firemedic Serving Since 2005 6 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic B Business Administration Fire Apparatus Engineer Wildland Firefighter EMS Equipment |
Mike Raasch Firemedic Serving Since 2003 8 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Carseat Technician Turnout Gear |
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| Dan Prezell Firemedic Serving Since 2005 6 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic BS History & Political Science Preplans |
Joel Severin Firemedic Serving Since 2005 6 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Wildland Firefighter BLS Instructor Extinguishers & Foam Facility Supplies |
Danny Roark Firemedic Serving Since 2006 5 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Wildland Firefighter BLS Instructor Wildland Team |
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| Andy Rubenstein Firemedic Serving Since 2008 7 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic |
Greg Spencer Firemedic Serving Since 2000 14 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer ACLS/PALS Instructor |
John Sherwood Firemedic Serving Since 2005 16 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic AAS Fire Science Fire Apparatus Engineer Hazmat Technician Hose |
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| Melissa Sosnoski Firemedic Serving Since 2004 10 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer BLS Instructor Carseat Technician Peer Fitness Trainer Peer Fitness Program |
Bill Wolff Firemedic Serving Since 1996 15 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic BA Marketing & Sales Management Fire Apparatus Engineer Wildland Firefighter BLS Instructor CPR Program |
Mark Skala Firemedic Serving Since 1998 13 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Wildland Firefighter Carseat Technician Gas-Powered Tools Vehicle Inventory |
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| Jake Arzer Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2010 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
Dan Bailey Firemedic Serving Since 2006 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic |
Clayton Booth Firemedic Serving Since 2006 5 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic |
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| Chris Carlson Firefighter Serving Since 1993 18 Years Experience Firefighter 3 Fire Apparatus Engineer |
Megan Dowd Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2010 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
Phil Fox Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2005 10 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
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| Joe Frice Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2007 4 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
Adam Graham Firefighter Serving Since 2010 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2 |
Jessica Johnson Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2008 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT NASM Personal Trainer NESTA Personal Trainer |
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| Chuck Kamminga Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 1998 13 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT Fire Apparatus Engineer |
Mike Kamminga Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2008 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT |
John Kourliouros Firefighter Serving Since 2010 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2 BA Philosophy |
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| Dan Lainio Firefighter Serving Since 2010 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2 |
Bruce Mahrenholz Firefighter Serving Since 1994 17 Years Experience Firefighter 3 Fire Apparatus Engineer |
Kevin Michehl Firefighter Serving Since 2010 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2 |
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| Ron Neubauer Firemedic Serving Since 1977 34 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 |
Larry Ofiara Firefighter Serving Since 2003 8 Years Experience Firefighter 2/RN BA Fine Arts ACLS/PALS Instructor BLS Instructor |
Mark Olakowski Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2006 5 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT AS Fire Science |
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| Brian Potesta Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2010 6 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT AS Fire Science Technology AS EMS |
Andy Rick Firemedic Serving Since 2006 5 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic BA Health Promotions Fire Apparatus Engineer ACE Personal Trainer |
Scott Brandon Rhoades Firemedic Serving Since 2010 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic |
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| Joe Schramm Firemedic Serving Since 2003 8 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic Advanced Hazmat Life Support |
Dave Senescu Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 1993 18 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT Wildland Firefighter |
Mark Speckan Firefighter Serving Since 1989 22 Years Experience Firefighter 2 |
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| Brian Steen Firemedic Serving Since 2008 3 Years Experience Firefighter 2/Paramedic |
Jeff Thier Firefighter-EMT Serving Since 2003 8 Years Experience Firefighter 2/EMT Wildland Firefighter BLS Instructor |
Austin Yarc Firefighter Serving Since 2010 1 Year Experience Firefighter 2 BA Recreational Management/Criminal Science Minor |
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| Bryan Zirzow Firemedic Serving Since 1993 18 Years Experience Firefighter 3/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Airport Firefighter |
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