Ability to operate both as a member of a team and independently at incidents of uncertain duration.

Ability to spend extensive time outside, exposed to the elements.

Ability to tolerate extreme fluctuations in temperature while performing duties. Must perform physically demanding work in hot (up to 400°F), humid (up to 100%) atmospheres while wearing equipment that significantly impairs body cooling mechanisms.

Ability to experience frequent transitions from hot to cold and from humid to dry atmospheres.

Ability to work in wet, icy or muddy conditions.

Ability to perform a variety of tasks on slippery and hazardous surfaces, such as on rooftops or from ladders.

Ability to work in areas where sustaining traumatic or thermal injuries is possible.

Ability to work with proper protective equipment in hazardous environments.

Ability to face possible exposure to infectious agents such as hepatitis B or HIV, with proper preventive procedures.

Able to wear personal protective equipment that weigh approximately 50 lbs. while performing various strenuous firefighting, rescue and other related tasks.

Ability to perform physically demanding work while wearing positive pressure breathing equipment.

Able to perform complex tasks during life threatening emergencies.

Able to work for long periods of time, requiring sustained physical activity and intense concentration.

Able to face and make life or death decisions during emergency conditions.

Able to face exposure to grotesque sights and smells associated with major trauma and burn victims.

Able to make rapid transition form rest to near maximal exertion without warm-up periods.

Able to operate in adverse environments of high noise, poor visibility, limited mobility, heights, and in confined spaces.

Ability to use manual and power tools in performance of duties.

Must be able to rely on senses of sight, hearing, smell and touch to determine the nature of the emergency, maintain personal safety, make critical decisions in confused, chaotic, and potentially life threatening environment through the duration of the operation.

Ability to raise, climb and work from ground and aerial ladders, without the fear of heights inhibiting job performance.

Ability to rescue by carrying or dragging an adult from a burning structure or other dangerous situation.

Ability to drag hose up to 2 1/2” in diameter, both charged and uncharged, limited distances, both horizontally and vertically.

Ability to connect hose couplings.

Ability to maintain balance in varying and rapidly changing positions and situations.

Ability to understand and carry-out orders in the English language in both emergency and non-emergency situations.

Ability to lift and carry a stretcher with one adult (minimum weight of 175 lbs.) on it up or down flights of stairs (minimum of 18 steps) with a minimum of one person to assist.

Ability to read, write and speak English at the twelfth grade level, as determined by testing and high school diploma and/or GED.

Must not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of himself or others.

Ability to use writing instruments.

Must be able to meet attendance requirements of the shift schedule that requires employees to work Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Ability to perform limited mechanical work involved in maintaining fire apparatus, equipment and tools.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Ability to communicate with the public.

Ability to analyze situations quickly, objectively and to determine proper courses of action.

Ability to annually pass a job related physical agility test.

Must have and maintain licensure by the Illinois Department of Public Health as an EMT and certification as a Firefighter II in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Fire Marshal throughout entire career.

Must be able to meet and maintain minimum health standards as set forth by NFPA standard 1582.

1/2/1901 - Decision made to hold first dance, Subscription taken by Judge Fitch to purchase a Fire Bell for the Village hall.

2/7/1901 - Dance committee reported profit of $84.00 from first annual dance. Three piece orchestra cost $9.00

4/10/1901 - Decision made that first arriving man should ring bell as long and as fast as he could. A.A. McMillen appointed Fire Marshal.

2/2/1902 - First Big Fire at the Gardiniers Livery Barn. Hand pumpers were the only equipment used.

9/14/1904 - Purchase of uniforms for members

3/3/1905 - Donated $200 to village to pay for gasoline pumper purchased second hand from Waukegan. John Washburn appointed Stoker for the engine.

5/1/1907 - Purchased two speaking trumpets.

6/5/1907 - First hose cart purchased by village.

11/3/1907 - Two percent on fire insurance first collected on this day.

10/1910 - Firemen are to be allowed .50¢ per hour each for fire calls-soon after price raised to $1.00 per hour.

2/1921 - St. Patrick's night selected as date for first annual dance

8/2/1921 - Department talks about purchasing fire truck. Members visit the Peter Pirsch & Company factory in Kenosha, WI.

11/21/1921 - Article inserted into the times asking for donations to help purchase Ford motor driven combination truck and pumper just purchased from the Waterous company.

8/5/1927 - New fire truck purchased from Peter Pirsch & Company in Kenosha for $6,560 complete. $1,000 received in trade for old fire truck with balance to be paid in yearly notes. (Paid in full 4/5/1931, two years early)

10/4/1927 - Group insurance purchased to cover men on duty. Two adapters purchased to enable us to assist the Village of Round Lake in case of a fire there. Department  instrumental in forming Lake County Firemen's Association.

 5/11/1937 - Purchased two ton International truck with cab from Ike Lusk Implement Co. Peter Pirsch Co. outfitted same for service, complete cost $2,500.

4/2/1940 - Department incorporated and registered.

5/7/1940 - First aid Instruction given for the first time by Clare Gleason from the American Red Cross.

12/7.1941 - (Pearl Harbor Day) Foundation poured for new fire station on west side of the Village Hall. Building 24 feet by 50 feet, completed March 20, 1943-cost $2,000.

10/6/1942 - McFarlane Apartments at Highland Lake burned down. Firemen put in 111 hours of labor.

5/1/1945 - Purchased a Dodge truck with 1,000 gallon tank and front end pump from Rockenbach Chevrolet-Cost $1,400. This vehicle was later sold to Rockland Fire Department in June 1950 for $800.

5/6/1947 - Gages Lake Association gave a siren to install at Rockenbach's garage at the south end of town. Chief McMillen presented gold badges to each member in honor of his 80th birthday and his 48th year as chief.

6/1949 - State and County paid tribute to Chief A.A. McMillen at an all day festival on "McMillen Day" celebrating his 50 years as a Grayslake fireman.

6/1952 - Radio alarm system installed with individual receivers in members homes and transmitter installed in Gelatin Factory and mobile transmitters installed trucks 2 & 3. Cost $2,386.00

4/1953 - Erected new fire station addition consisting of three bays 42 feet by 63 feet, washroom facilities. With volunteer labor total cost was $14,100.

5/1954 - Addition to rear of fire station 50 feet by 30 feet shared with village on cost and garage space.

12/31/1955 - Wilbur Lumber Company burned on New Years Eve. Fire loss estimated at $250,000, six fire departments present: Round Lake, Libertyville, Mundelein, Fox Lake, Lake Villa & Barrington.

7/1958 - Rescue truck overturned responding to the Jones barn on Rt.83. Damage approx. $700.00

1/1/1959 - Burgess Vibrocrafters fire New Years day with a total fire loss of $850,000. Mundelein, Countryside and Round Lake fire departments responded with aid.

8/1960 - Youth critically injured igniting home as prank. Ignited home with gasoline and fuel oil mixture. House on Lake Street next to High School was scheduled to burn.

5/1963 - Put into service new 750 gallon per minute pumper, Chevrolet Chassis built by Howe Fire Apparatus Co. at a cost of $23,000.00. Transfer of former truck equipment to new truck brought total cost to $28,900.00.

12/1963 - Elderly couple, son and firemen overcome by carbon-monoxide from un-vented commercial water heater being repaired.

 2/1965 - New Thunderbolt siren installed at Village Hall by Civil Defense and Village at cost of $3,500.

3/1965 - Williams home destroyed in Arbor Vista Subdivision. $50,000 loss.

10/1965 - Man fatally burned while in process of welding asphalt tank. Explosion ruptured 13,000 gallon tank.

5/1966 - Department awarded 1st place trophy, Commercial truck Competition at Wauconda on truck 756, Lake County Firemen's Association Convention.

1/1967 - Pirsch pumper (1927) officially retired and presented to the Jay-cees for placement in the Grayslake Park.

1974 - Paramedic program instituted.

1976 - Grayslake Fire Protection District formed.

1981 - First full time employee hired working days. He worked 6 days in a row and then had 2 days off. This was later changed to working 6 days then having 3 days off. The employee, Don Mobley is currently the Fire Chief given that position in 1994. 

1990 - 24 hour shifts started providing protection 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

1994 - Chief R.S. Rockenbach retires after 48 years with the department. Don Mobley appointed Fire Chief. 

1994 - Final St. Patrick's Day dance held. Dance cancelled due to concerns over the serving of Alcohol.

2006 - The Grayslake Fire Protection District currently employs 29 full time employees. Of these there are currently 3 shifts consisting of 8 Firefighter / Paramedics, 1 Captain and 1 Lieutenant. There is also 6 daytime personnel working Monday thru Friday from 8-5. These personnel include the Chief, Deputy Chief, 2 fire inspectors, a firefighter/EMT, and an Administrative Assistant. Supplementing the full time staff are 30 part time personnel trained to a minimum standard of firefighter/EMT-B. Many part time personnel continue on to paramedic school.