Experience in Chicago. Who can help me?

[NLfirefighter]

Who will and can help me?

I’m Lex de Wit from the Netherlands.
As my wife is going to work in Chicago, we moving to the U.S.A. this summer (july 2006) for 2 years. In the Netherlands I am a fire safety engineer and also a volunteer firefighter.
In the 2 years that we stay in Chicago I will learn a lot about the work of firefighters in the U.S.A. I hope it is possible to get work experience at a fire station in Chicago, possible includes education.

If someone can help me or has important information, please contact me at lex.dewit@12move.nl

[Fman777]

Who will and can help me?

I’m Lex de Wit from the Netherlands.
As my wife is going to work in Chicago, we moving to the U.S.A. this summer (july 2006) for 2 years. In the Netherlands I am a fire safety engineer and also a volunteer firefighter.
In the 2 years that we stay in Chicago I will learn a lot about the work of firefighters in the U.S.A. I hope it is possible to get work experience at a fire station in Chicago, possible includes education.

If someone can help me or has important information, please contact me at lex.dewit@12move.nl

Hi Lex

Let me be the first to welcome you to Chicago. We're actually located about 10 miles south of the City, but we have been called in to help them out on a mutual aid response before.
I know that Chicago used to have a program where a Firefighter could sign up for ride time and work a shift or 2, but I don't know if it's still something they do. I would check with one of the larger stations or maybe a Chicago FF can leave you a post here.
As far as work experience in Chicago, the only way to get hired there is to get on the list and it usually takes them years to go through their list and I think they just re-established their hiring list.
Your best bet would be to check with the suburban departments and see if their looking for Paid on call firefighters. Most usually are depending on the town (some are Full Time onlly), but some will take POC's pretty much any time, and depending where you stay (City or Burb's) you might get some fire experience that way.
Good luck to ya