James Childers started his career in the fire service in 1995 with the Cairo, IL, Fire Department. That was followed with a tenure as an EMT with Alexander County, NC, EMS in 1996. During that time, he became an EMT-paramedic. In 2005, Childers joined the Champaign, IL, Fire Department, where he is a captain/training officer. He joined the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) in 2012. Childers serves as an IFSI Fire Academy instructor and battalion chief, the latter for seven years.