Oak Park Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Fadden will talk to students at Oak Park and River Forest High School on Wednesday, Oct. 21, about careers in firefighting and emergency medical services. He arrives at a moment when his department is actively trying to fill six open positions.

The Oak Park Fire Department listed six firefighter/paramedic vacancies on its Public Safety Testing page as of Aug. 24. The openings come after the Oak Park Village Board voiced support for an "over hire ordinance" authorizing salaries and benefits for six new firefighters not previously included in the 2026 village budget, according to Oak Park's village reporting.

Two separate studies of the department found that low staffing levels are driving high overtime costs and widespread stress among first responders. A Baker Tilly survey commissioned by the village found that more than 90% of Oak Park firefighters feel understaffed and overworked. Nearly 70% of respondents said staffing levels sometimes delay response times.

The department's firefighters union recommended hiring nine new firefighters to bring staffing closer to four per fire apparatus, up from three. The department responded to more calls for service in 2024 than in any year since at least 2019, according to both reports.

Village President Vicki Scaman said the village aims "to properly support all staff, and all departments and to make sure that they have the resources they need to do their jobs safely."

The staffing challenge is not unique to Oak Park. Fire department leaders across northern Illinois have described a statewide shortage of firefighters and paramedics, as Shaw Local reported. In 2023, the Illinois State Fire Marshal established a task force to address recruiting and retention problems. Some departments have responded by introducing high school students to fire careers through cadet and apprentice programs.

Fadden's talk is part of OPRF's Career Callers speaker series, which brings local professionals into classrooms. The full schedule, according to the school's website:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 21: Kevin Fadden on firefighting and EMT careers. Sixth period, Room 3130.
  • Monday, Oct. 26: Matt Johnston, real estate broker with Fulton Grace Realty, on careers in real estate. Second and third periods, Room 2139A.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 4: Marz Timms, actor, comedian and owner of Comedy Plex Comedy Club, on the entertainment business. Fourth and fifth periods, SRC Room 2317.

Students must register online through links on the school's website before each session.