The Chicago Sun-Times recently published an article highlighting the growing issue of overtime costs within the Chicago Fire Department, which has prompted the city to hold its first firefighter entrance exam in eight years in 2014. However, the process is being implemented differently than some officials, including former firefighter and Alderman Nick Sposato (36th), would prefer.
Sposato, who took the exam in 1978 and again in 1985, believes that physical ability should be the main factor in hiring firefighters. He argues that candidates should be ranked based on their performance in a physical test, as long as they pass a basic written exam. This method was used successfully in the past without any legal challenges. But this year’s exam will be different — after passing a pass-fail written test, candidates will be assigned random numbers and called in order of availability, rather than by their physical performance.
The need for new firefighters is urgent due to the dramatic rise in overtime costs, which have increased from $13.5 million in 2011 to $20 million in 2013, with projections reaching $35.3 million by 2014. The exact number of open positions remains unclear, but the city is under pressure to fill them quickly.
Once candidates arrive at the fire academy, their physical fitness will be tested. They must pass a background check, a drug test, and a physical abilities test — all of which are pass-fail. Only those who meet all three requirements will be offered a spot in the next class.
Sposato strongly disagrees with the current system, calling it a “luck-of-the-draw†approach. He recalls how, in the past, those who trained and worked hard were prioritized, while others were called later. “Firefighting is a physical job,†he said. “If you want the job, you should train for it. Then we can rank you based on your performance.â€
He shared his own experience from the 1985 test, when he went in unprepared and ended up waiting eight years to be hired. “I deserved that because I didn’t work out or train,†he admitted. “My friends who trained for months or even a year got called before me.â€
Some speculate that the city's reluctance to prioritize physical ability may be linked to a costly legal settlement from September 2013. The city paid nearly $2 million in compensation and $1.7 million in legal fees to dozens of women who were unfairly excluded from firefighter positions due to a discriminatory physical test, which has since been eliminated.
Overall, the debate over how to fairly and effectively hire new firefighters continues, with many questioning whether the current system truly reflects the demands of the job.
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