Training is at the core of the Fire Service. The Sauk Village Fire Department has an aggressive training program that meets and exceeds the required firefighter training based on Federal and OSHA standards.



New members attend a New Recruit course given at the fire station that gives them the knowledge and skills necessary to become "functional." Once this is completed, the "probationary firefighter" will attend a Firefighter Academy to get their state certification as a firefighter. This academy will be held at the Sauk Village Fire Department, Prairie State College, or the Third District Fire Academy in South Holland. Academies can last from 16 weeks to 6 months.



When something bad happens, people call 911 and the fire department gets called out. No matter what it is, firefighters have to be able to bring the crisis under control. The Training Program at the Sauk Village Fire Department prepares firefighters to deal with a wide variety of emergencies. Emergencies that firefighters have to be ready for include, but are not limited to, vehicle crashes, hazardous materials incidents, different rescue scenarios, and all the different kinds of fires that can be encountered.


The Fire Department Officer staff is made up of Certified Fire Service Instructors that can teach most of the subject areas. Outside instructors are brought in from time to time to share their expertise. Firefighters are also encouraged to attend courses at other fire departments and schools.



The Fire Service is an ever changing field and continued education never stops. The mission of the Sauk Village Fire Department is to give firefighters what they need to provide the best service they can and to come home safely. The Training Division Motto is: "Walking into Hell is your job; Making sure you walk out is ours."