65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-7.1
Persons transferred from the employment of a Fire Protection District by virtue of an Act entitled "An Act in Relation to Fire Protection Districts" under Section 21 as now or hereafter amended, shall without examination be assigned to the positions in the classified civil service or under the Fire and Police Commissioners Act of the municipality so far as may be practicable, having duties and responsibilities equivalent to their fire protection district employment. For the purpose of establishing the civil service status or classified service status under the board of fire and police commissioners of firemen transferred to the municipality, the rank of Chief of the Fire Department shall not be recognized. The appointment of the Chief of the Fire Department shall be subject to the ordinances of the transferee municipality in the appointment of the same. Employees so transferred shall have the same standing, grade, class or rank which they held in the classified service of the fire protection district from which they were transferred. For the purpose of determining seniority and class, grade or rank, each employee shall be credited with the time served by him on the date of such transfer and shall be given the position in the classified service as nearly comparable in responsibilities and duties to his former employment as it may be possible to approximate.
65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-7.1