Become Chicago Suburbs Firefighter?



I am going to be graduating from college with a 4 year business degree in about a year and I will be starting to work as a volunteer paid on call fireman for a couple years to get some certifications and experience. Does anybody have any insight as to the best way to get hired by a Chicago suburb fire dept.? The few that I have talked to (Downers Grove, Naperville, Hinsdale); all require candidates to be paramedics to even apply. Are there departments that don’t require you to be a paramedic and what are some good Illinois departments to volunteer with that would offer a lot of education to advance my career opportunities. My home town is Downers Grove and I am not sure if I have to live in the town that I volunteer or not. Any light that could be shed on this topic would be much appreciated.