Training and Professional Development

The Operations Division manages the professional development, readiness level, and continuing education for the Fire Department. We strive to ensure that all suppression personnel are prepared to respond for any call for assistance from the residents of the City of Champaign, those working within its borders or anyone traveling through our great City! The Department takes pride in training its personnel to the highest standards in the fire service. The Division strives for excellence in every aspect of what we do, to make sure our firefighters are ready to answer any call they are dispatched to. In 2022, the Operations Division continued to use its many resources within and outside the Department to enhance training and educational needs. The following are the highlights of over 13,060 training hours completed in 2022.

• Various scenario-based Incident Command and Company Officer development training sessions.
• Probationary Firefighters complete a six week basic firefighting academy, followed by several more classes to include Firefighting, Haz-Mat, Tech Rescue, ICS and EMS.
• All new Probationary Firefighters go through a three day Firefighter field training program, consisting of 19 skill assessments and enhancement priorities to meet both the individual and Department needs.
• Department wide fire apparatus driver/pump/aerial ladder training.
• Countless hours of company based fire related training.