How do I become a fire fighter?

I want to become a fire fighter in Chicago, however I live in Michigan how can I make this happen?

• I'm already a firefighter here in MI but I want a change of pace, I dont really like MI anymore. So what are the steps I need to take to become a fire fighter in Chicago?

• Answer:

  They only do a test when the candidate list is down to where they have to do one. It used to be that was about every 3 years but it may be longer now. Becoming a Chicago firefighter is not an easy or fast process. The Chicago Fire Department only hires the best of the best and only the best of those make it through training and probation. Also, keep in mind that city residency is required to even apply for the job which could put you in a catch 22 if you want to take the suburban route. The suburbs will hire firefighters but most of them also require that you establish residency in the city of hire so if you want to work in Chicago, it will be hard for you to live in 2 places. There is however Evanston which is just north of Chicago and I do not think they require residency (many of the north lakefront suburbs do not require residency simply because they do not pay nearly what it would cost a cop of firefighter to live there). You might try there and other north shore towns and then you can live in Chicago and wait for the city firefighter test to come around again. If you want to get an idea when it might come around, stop in at a firehouse and talk to the Captain. They usually know when it will come around because many of them have family members that want to take it too.