Ill. FD increases staffing after dropping paramedic pre-hire requirment [Video]

By Drew ZimmermanThe Pantagraph

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Katie Breazeale, a probationary crew member of the Bloomington Fire Department, said becoming a firefighter was not a lifelong dream.

But after hearing from another firefighter that the department was hiring and would not require paramedic licensure for new recruits, the former teacher and personal trainer from Gibson City seized the opportunity for a career change that fulfilled her interest in helping others.

“He originally told me about the Bloomington Fire Department openings for my husband,” Breazeale said. “And in talking about it to my husband, I said this is actually a better fit for me.”

With a child less than a year old at the time, Breazale said it would not have been possible to attend the necessary classes for licensure.

Carl Reeb, deputy chief of training for the Bloomington Fire Department, said applicant pools for vacant firefighter positions have typically sat at around 20 candidates …