Fire Programs & Services

The Northbrook Fire Department is certified by Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the State of Illinois as the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) for the Village. Rated a "1" by Insurance Services Office, Inc., Northbrook provides superior fire-protection services for citizens and property owners ranking Northbrook in the top 2.50% of Fire Departments in Illinois.

The Department is part of the MABAS Division 3. Automatic aid and mutual aid agreements are in place with all of the surrounding communities and Northbrook is part of the RED Center Communication System which provides fire dispatch to fourteen area departments. The Department also staffs three Special Teams: Underwater Rescue and Recovery (Dive), Special Rescue, and Hazardous Materials Response.

Ambulance Billing

The ambulance transportation fee for Village of Northbrook and Rural Fire Protection District is at the new rates since January 1, 2023, are as follows: 

- BLS emergency ambulance transportation: $2,036.20
- ALS emergency ambulance transportation: $2,237.39
- ALS 2 emergency ambulance transportation: $2,237.39
  (Mileage is $12 per mile)

The fee applies when the Fire Department’s ambulance provides transportation to the hospital. There is no charge for emergency response without transport.

Most health insurance policies, including Medicare, provide coverage for ambulance transportation. No payment is requested or accepted at the time of service. Billing normally occurs within a few weeks of the incident. In order for the Village of Northbrook to submit a claim, the patient must provide their insurance carrier information using the Insurance Information Request Form. 

Please note, the Northbrook Fire Department complies with the HIPAA Privacy Rule and the Notice of Privacy Practices.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. If a disaster happens that overwhelms local response capability, CERT members can give critical support to their family, neighbors, or associates in their immediate area until help arrives. When help does arrive, CERT provides useful information to responders and supports their efforts, as directed, at the disaster site. CERT members can also assist with non-emergency projects that improve the safety of the community.

Fire Prevention Permit Applications

Include four sets of any associated documents along with the completed application.

Firefighter & Paramedic Recruitment

Firefighter and Paramedic Testing Eligibility List

Requirements

For testing and establishment of eligibility lists for Village of Northbrook firefighters/paramedics, the following items are minimum requirements (subject to change):

  • You must be a United States citizen or meet the requirements of the Illinois Human Rights Act for citizenship status
  • Must have passed 21st birthday and, except as otherwise provided by law, be under 35 years of age at date of examination.
  • Correctable to 20/40, normal peripheral vision and able to distinguish colors
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Valid CPAT and Ladder Climb card issued from the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA) or Southwestern United Fire District (SUFD) at time of written exam. CPAT and Ladder Climb cards/certificates considered valid only if issued after January 1 of the same year as exam.
  • High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent, and one of the following qualifications:
    • An Associate’s degree or at least 60 semester credit hours at an accredited college or university (copy of official certified transcripts due at application deadline);
    • State of Illinois licensed Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic (EMT-P);
    • State of Illinois licensed Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (EMT-B) and Office of the State Fire Marshal Firefighter II certification.

Station Tours

The Northbrook Fire Department offers station tours between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at Station 11, located at 740 Dundee Road. To schedule a tour, please call 847-664-4495.

Warming & Cooling Centers

These public locations are typically open during normal hours of operation. Please call to verify they are open. For a listing of Cook County Warming Centers, visit https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/warming-centers