Excerpts from the NorthwestHerald.com:
As a part-time firefighter, Jonathan Fleck doesn't qualify for health insurance through the Huntley Fire Protection District. But after seven years of service, he's finally getting some support.
In an effort to retain and attract part-time firefighters, Huntley is joining forces with Cary, Rutland-Dundee, Sugar Grove, and other local fire departments to share a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This funding aims to help part-timers stay committed over the next four years.
Under the program, part-time firefighters like Fleck will receive a $75 monthly stipend if they complete six hours of training and work six shifts each month. The money can be used for health care, child care, education, or retirement planning—areas where part-timers often fall short compared to full-time staff.
Part-time firefighters typically earn less and have fewer benefits, which makes it challenging for fire departments to keep them. To combat this, many departments are turning to creative solutions, such as offering financial incentives or highlighting opportunities for career advancement.
Huntley Fire Chief Ken Caudle says his department has around 30 part-time firefighters and 58 full-timers. He'd ideally like to have 35 part-timers, but recruiting isn't easy. Many candidates are unwilling to commit to the demanding training required to work just one shift a week for about $17 to $18 an hour.
This issue is common across the region, as departments often rely on the same small group of part-timers.
"Many of our guys have become full-time in other departments, but they still come in on their days off to protect their own community," said Cary Fire Chief Jeffrey Macko.
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant is designed to help departments maintain and grow their part-time workforce. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, only 8% of fire departments nationwide are fully staffed by career firefighters, and none are in McHenry County.
Most fire departments in the area depend heavily on part-time personnel. Only two departments—Crystal Lake Fire Rescue and Huntley Fire Protection District—are considered mostly career-based, with 51% to 99% of their staff working full time.
At the Richmond Fire Protection District, Chief Rick Gallas is the only full-time firefighter at a station that operates 24/7. Hiring more full-timers isn't feasible due to budget constraints, so he focuses on training and development.
"Our goal is to get them trained and use them for five to seven years, depending on how long it takes for them to secure a full-time position elsewhere," Gallas explained. "Then we lose them."
Gallas is currently recruiting for five to 10 new candidates within a 10-mile radius who can complete the department’s mini-academy to earn their Firefighter Basic Certificate. The cost of the program, which is $2,400, is split between the trainee and the department.
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