Operations

Overview

The Operations Division's primary responsibility is to respond to emergencies within the Village of Libertyville, the Libertyville Fire Protection District, and through mutual aid to other communities in the Lake County area. The Operations Division manages the following functions: Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Medical Dispatch, Training, Disaster Planning, Specialized Teams, and other special operations. These functions are provided by professionally trained firefighter/paramedics who respond to over 5,000 calls for each year.

Emergency Medical Services 

The Libertyville Fire Department’s Emergency Services Division is responsible for medical services for the Village of Libertyville and the Fire Protection District. The Department is within Illinois Department of Public Health’s Region X, and our affiliated resource hospital is Northwest Lake Forest Hospital.

All of Libertyville Fire Department’s 45+ sworn members are Illinois-licensed Paramedics. Paramedics receive training on a monthly basis to update and maintain their proficiency skills. Our certified paramedics receive semi-annual testing through the resource hospital.

Currently, the Emergency Services Division is supported by 5 Advanced Life Support Ambulances and 3 Advanced Life Support Fire Engines.

Emergency Preparedness & Response

The possibility of public health emergencies arising in the United States concerns many people in the wake of recent hurricanes, tsunamis, acts of terrorism, and the threat of pandemic influenza. Though some people feel it is impossible to be prepared for unexpected events, taking preparedness actions help people deal with disasters of all sorts much more effectively when they do occur. To help, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Red Cross are excellent resources in answering common questions and provide step-by-step guidance you can take now to protect you and your loved ones.

Fire Suppression & Rescue

The Libertyville Fire Department Emergency Services Division is responsible for the fire suppression and rescue services for the Village of Libertyville and the Libertyville Fire Protection District. Fire suppression, technical rescue and vehicle extrication emergency operations are supported out of 3 fire stations by 3 fire engines, 1 heavy rescue squad, 1 ladder tower, and 1 water rescue vehicle.

Department members are trained to National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) and Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Operations levels for fire suppression, hazardous materials, technical rescue, and water rescue.

Moreover, members specially trained to the National Fire Protection and Office of the Illinois Fire Marshal’s Technician level are part of the Libertyville Fire Department and Mutual Aid Box Alarm Systems (MABAS) Division 4 Dive, Technical Rescue, Side Scan Sonar, Wildland and Hazardous Materials teams. Libertyville Fire Department is a member of MABAS Division 4, which provides local, regional, and statewide mutual aid.

Firefighter Training

The Training and Education Division is responsible for the academic and manual skills training required of all fire personnel to meet the daily duties of fire prevention, fire suppression, Emergency Medical Services, rescue and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) mitigation. Department members are constantly updated on response procedures and kept abreast of the latest technologies in the fire service.

When a new firefighter is hired, they are trained to the Office of the State Fire Marshal Basic Operations Firefighter (BOF) and Illinois Department of Public Health as a licensed paramedic. Department members are also trained to the Office of the State Fire Marshal Operations level in structural collapse, hazardous materials (HAZMAT), trench, vertical rescue, and swift water. Through department training and education, each member is encouraged to achieve a higher level of certification. Members can obtain Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal Advanced Technician Firefighter certification and from there continue on to obtain the Company Fire Officer, Advanced Company Officer, and Chief Fire Officer certifications.

Members are also given the opportunity to train with the Libertyville Fire Department and Lake County Technical Rescue Teams (TRT). Teams include wildland firefighting, dive/water rescue, structural collapse, trench collapse, confined space rescue and rope rescue.

Specialized Teams

While all members of the Libertyville Fire Department are trained in firefighting and emergency medicine, some other emergencies require specialized skills and equipment. These types of emergencies include hazardous materials, water rescue and recovery, side scan sonar, confined space, vertical rescue, trench or below ground rescue, structural collapse, and wildland fires.

All members of these special response teams are also members of Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Division 4 and are required to be trained to the Technician Level. In addition to their regular department training, these special team members require additional monthly training and perform equipment maintenance to sustain their proficiencies and skills.

Disaster Preparedness

Emergency Management Agency (EMA)

The Village of Libertyville, by Ordinance, operates an Emergency Management Agency (EMA), which complies with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act (20ILCS 3305). The EMA is responsible for disaster preparedness, response and recovery. One of the main functions performed by the EMA is creating and maintaining a Village All-Hazards Emergency Response Manual, which can be used in the event of a serious emergency or disaster. The EMA also provides annual training for Village staff, and works closely with the Lake County Emergency Management Agency to provide advanced training to Village employees.

When a disaster is declared in the Village of Libertyville, a series of actions are initiated which help the Village respond and recover from a disaster. This includes staffing the Emergency Operations Center, requesting and coordinating resources, and managing the incident.