Our firefighters are not paid employees; rather they are rewarded with the knowledge that they save lives, the satisfaction of a job well done, the pride in their community, and the comradery of the fire service family. 

RequirementS

• Be at least 18 years old

• No felony convictions

• Valid driver’s license

• Ability to learn firefighting skills and obtain the Basic Operations Firefighter certification within 2 years.

• Prospective members must reside within a 4 mile radius of either engine house. The engine houses are located at 3111 East B Street Rd, Belleville, IL 62221 and 1723 N Belt East, Belleville, IL 62221. Refer to the map below to help determine if you reside within the radius.

Application & Membership Process

To join the department, you must complete a membership application provided here. Applications are also available at either fire house and can be picked up on Monday nights.

Deliver the completed application to the East Side Fire Department any Monday evening between 6:30 PM and 7 PM. After submitting your application, we will process your application and preform a background check. This process generally takes between 2-4 weeks. Once a successful background investigation is completed, successful applicants will be considered at the monthly Association business meeting. Once a member of the Association, you will be issued a training task book with Job Performance Requirements. This process typically takes 1-3 months dependent on the individual. After completing the required portions, you will be eligible to be sworn in as a Probationary Firefighter, at which time you will be issued equipment and allowed to respond to emergency calls.

Applicants who already posses valid firefighting certifications may be offered an accelerated membership process on a case-by-case basis.

Frequently Asked Questions