The Homewood and Flossmoor communities have well-trained and well-staffed fire departments that give the best care possible on ambulance calls.
Homewood Fire Department’s 21 firefighter/paramedics are full-time employees, seven working per shift. Homewood went to full-time staffing in about 1978, said Chief Bob Grabowski. Homewood requires all firefighters to also be certified paramedics.
Flossmoor has a combination of full-time firefighter/paramedics and part-time emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
“On every shift we have at least three paramedics, and two EMTs,” said Fire Chief Robert Kopec.
On emergency calls, an EMT will ride with a paramedic. That protocol follows Illinois’ Advance Life Support requirements.
Two who graduated Dec. 18 from the Prairie State College EMT program will be working in Flossmoor once they pass the certification test.
Sofia Ceiley-LoGalbo said she wanted to do something in the medical field when she graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in May. She discovered the firefighter/paramedic profession at H-F’s College Night program and decided it would be a good job to pursue.
EMT graduate Christian Remblake will also be working for the Flossmoor Fire Department.
He graduated high school in May and two weeks later was in a firefighter training program. Then he started EMT school through Prairie State.
It was a lot to learn in a short period of time. Remblake found “it was more mental, having to stay focused.”
Jerry Slisz, a retired Orland Park Fire District paramedic who is an evening instructor in the EMT program, said he’s seeing both recent high school graduates and returning adults in his classes. Being an EMT “is a stepping stone, it’s a first step. The big step is the paramedics,” he said.
Related story:
- Next Gen: Preparing for compassionate care: Prairie State College EMT and paramedic programs are growing (Jan. 1, 2026)
