South Holland Fire Department

Location: 16230 Wausau Ave, South Holland, IL 60473

About the South Holland Fire Department

The South Holland Fire Department provides comprehensive fire suppression and emergency medical services to approximately 23,000 residents across an 11-square-mile area. Our workforce is defined by high ethical standards, responsiveness, and a continuous drive for improvement. We are proud to maintain an ISO rating of 2, reflecting our strong commitment to excellence in fire protection and emergency response.

Our response area also includes significant sections of Interstate 80, Interstate 94, Interstate 294, and Route 394, requiring readiness for a wide range of emergency situations.

Each year, the department responds to more than 6,000 emergency calls, with approximately 72% related to Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Department Structure

The South Holland Fire Department operates as a combination fire department, consisting of both Full-Time firefighters and Part-Time/Paid-On-Call personnel.

Daily operations include a minimum staffing of six Full-Time firefighters, supported by Part-Time personnel and one Full-Time Fire Inspector. Staffing levels may increase depending on operational needs, time of day, or incident demand.

These dedicated members staff two fire stations operating 24 hours a day to ensure rapid response and community protection.

Leadership

The department is led by:

Brian Kolosh – Fire Chief
Al Wynsma – Deputy Fire Chief
Janet Zambrano – Executive Assistant

Please feel free to reach out to any of them for assistance.

Emergency Medical and Specialized Response

The South Holland Fire Department is an Advanced Life Support (ALS) EMS response department, providing highly trained medical response capabilities to the community.

In addition to standard fire and EMS services, members are specially trained in several specialized response areas, including:

Technical Rescue Team (TRT)
Dive Rescue Team
Hazardous Materials Response Team

These specialized teams allow the department to safely manage complex and high-risk emergencies.

Fire Prevention and Investigation

The department also maintains a Fire Prevention Bureau and a Fire/Arson Investigation Unit dedicated to protecting the community through prevention, education, and enforcement.

The Fire Prevention Bureau conducts routine fire inspections of all commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities within the Village, ensuring buildings meet safety standards and helping reduce the risk of fire emergencies.

Fire Cadet Program

The South Holland Fire Department offers a Cadet Program for individuals ages 17–21 interested in pursuing a career in the fire service.

Cadets participate in training activities that do not involve direct fire exposure and assist at incident scenes in a support role. Participants who successfully complete the fire academy, maintain at least one year of service, and are 18 years of age or older may be promoted to the rank of Paid-On-Call Firefighter.