Citizen Fire Academy

What is the Citizen Fire Academy?

The mission of the Citizen Fire Academy is to build a well-informed and engaged group of community members by providing an inside look at the roles and responsibilities of the Evanston Fire Department. Participants gain firsthand insight into the realities of firefighting, including the challenges, risks, and rewards of the profession.

The program combines brief classroom discussions with an emphasis on hands-on learning. Classes are held weekly on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., along with two Saturday morning sessions, over 10 weeks. Topics include an introduction to the Evanston Fire Department, Special Teams, Fire Prevention, Emergency Medical Services, Vehicle Extrication, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, Engine Operations, Truck Operations, and Live Fire training.

There is one academy per year. Check back in summer 2026 for the next session. There is no fee to enroll.

Goals

• To educate the public through a series of classroom and hands-on courses utilizing the resources and manpower of the Evanston Fire Department.
• To explain the tactics and strategies of firefighting and rescue, along with the dangers and benefits inherent to this type of service.
• To provide insight into the inner workings of the Evanston Fire Department and to better inform the residents of Evanston about the multitude of services that are provided to the community.
• To foster an understanding of the broad spectrum of knowledge, training, and skills that are necessary to be a member of the Evanston Fire Department.
• To better prepare residents of Evanston to react properly in the event of a fire or medical emergency.
• To encourage our Academy participants to return to their organizations, neighborhoods, and families to share information that will develop more safety-conscious citizens.
• To provide an interactive forum for both the Evanston Fire Department and citizens to share information and concerns.

We have found that education has been most effective in gaining understanding and support from the community. Through the implementation of the Citizen Fire Academy, the Evanston Fire Department offers its citizens insights into how firefighters/paramedics perform their duties, as well as how the department serves the community. Individuals who would like to participate in the Academy must be at least 21 years of age.