MONROE CENTER — Due to most of its firefighters working during the weekdays and outside the Monroe Center village limits, the Monroe Township Fire & Ambulance Protection District, also known as Monroe Center Fire, is looking to expand its paid-on-call positions to part-time as well.
According to the United States Fire Administration, there are currently 27,182 registered fire departments in the United States, and in Illinois, we have 1,107 registered fire departments. Within those 27,182 registered fire departments in the United States are some 1,208,300 firefighters. Within Illinois, we have 65.2% volunteers, 14.1% mostly volunteers, 6.2% mostly career, and 14.5% career firefighters. Monroe Township Fire is a paid-on-call department, which would fall under the mostly volunteer status.
The Monroe Township Fire District was organized in 1952 for $1,000, as a volunteer organization to protect the residents and farms. As the years went by many members who assisted in developing this organization have left a legacy today. The Monroe Township Fire & Ambulance Protection District moved from an all-volunteer organization in 2009 to a paid-on call organization as the fire chief sought ways to keep the members active due to the rising costs of fuel.
“Taking care of the firefighters who take care of our community is essential to the fire chief,” Deputy Chief Richard Wilson said. “Without the dedication of each member, we would not be able to support our community when an emergency arises. Carrying this paid-on call position for 15 years has now moved us into adding a position to our organization.
The exciting news I share with you today is that the fire chief and the Board of Trustees identified that many times we draw resources from our neighboring communities due to our members working out of town when the emergency occurs. This causes delays in response to rendering aid to our residents, so starting on Jan. 6, 2025, we will be offering station coverage in the form of a part-time position of firefighter/EMT on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from the hours of 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. As we monitor this program, we will look to expand it to all weekdays in the future and then move to all days of the week followed by increasing the eight-hour coverage to 10 or 12 hours as the need arises.
Those who are currently certified as firefighter/EMTs or will be certified by Jan. 6, 2025, are encouraged to apply. MC Fire are working under the EMS System of Rockford MercyHealth Hospital. The application period will be open from Sept. 23, 2024, until Oct. 6, 2024. The current starting wage is $16/hour. and we currently run about 135 calls a year, which are expected to rise as we now can offer mutual aid to our neighbors as well. You can either use Facebook, stop by the station, call our station at 815-393-4222, or contact me Deputy Chief Richard Wilson at deputy2691@yahoo.com.
I look forward to meeting all those who apply, as we move through the selection process my goal is to onboard up to four persons with a minimum of people needed. We will be holding an orientation on Oct. 19, 2024, with an interview process being held over the next two weeks and announcing our selections on Nov. 4, 2024. Training for the new hires will start on Nov. 9, 2024, at 8 a.m.”
