Lake Bluff recognizes eight new volunteer firefighters after academy graduation
February 02, 2026 | Lake Bluff, Lake County, Illinois
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The Lake Bluff Village Board on Jan. 26 recognized eight new volunteer firefighters who completed the department’s academy.
Joe McKay, an academy instructor, described the training program and welcomed the graduates into the department. “They do about 200 hours of work, 28 chapters, 1000 pages,” McKay said, and noted the curriculum includes live-fire exercises, vehicle extrication and other practical skills. The board invited the new volunteers to stand and thanked them for their service.
Board members and community representatives praised the program as a free, community-supported training opportunity that requires a commitment to serve. McKay told the board this class lost only two participants (one to injury and one for personal reasons), a smaller attrition rate than usual, and said the department provides the state’s roughly $6,000 training at no cost to recruits in exchange for service to the village.
The recognition concluded without formal action; trustees and attendees welcomed the new volunteers and encouraged community support for the department.
The board moved on to other agenda items following the recognition.
Joe McKay, an academy instructor, described the training program and welcomed the graduates into the department. “They do about 200 hours of work, 28 chapters, 1000 pages,” McKay said, and noted the curriculum includes live-fire exercises, vehicle extrication and other practical skills. The board invited the new volunteers to stand and thanked them for their service.
Board members and community representatives praised the program as a free, community-supported training opportunity that requires a commitment to serve. McKay told the board this class lost only two participants (one to injury and one for personal reasons), a smaller attrition rate than usual, and said the department provides the state’s roughly $6,000 training at no cost to recruits in exchange for service to the village.
The recognition concluded without formal action; trustees and attendees welcomed the new volunteers and encouraged community support for the department.
The board moved on to other agenda items following the recognition.
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