City of Seattle Personnel Department

FIRE FIGHTER

   

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION: Under general supervision, a Fire Fighter responds to fires, accidents, and medical emergencies to protect life and property; participates in fire inspection, fire prevention activities, station maintenance, and training activities; and to perform related work as required.

   

SALARY RANGE : Starting salary is $4,775 per month, increasing to $5,060 after six months, and to $5,346, $5,632, $5,918 in successive annual steps. Opportunities exist for advancement, without further examinations, to Paramedic Technician, Fire Prevention Inspector, and Fire Dispatcher.

   

VACANCIES: It is anticipated that approximately 30 positions will be filled annually, depending on vacancies.

   

EXAM SCHEDULE INFORMATION: 

If you submit an application, you will receive notification via U.S. mail advising you of the time and place of the written test, on or before January 11, 2008 .  If you do not receive a notice of the time and location for your exam by January 11, 2008 , it is your responsibility to call this office on or before January 15, 2008 at (206) 615-0581 to request the exam scheduling information.

   

*NOTE:  There is a non-refundable $25.00 fee required for application/testing.

   

REQUIREMENTS AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT: (These are not required in order to take the exam)

A.        Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age or older to be hired.

B.         Educational Requirement: Applicants must have a high school diploma or have passed an equivalency test (G.E.D.) to be hired.

C.        License: Applicants must possess a valid State of Washington Driver ’s License to be hired, but it is not   required to take the examination.

D.        EMT Certification: Applicants must obtain a Washington State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification or proof of EMT course completion  in order to be hired (it is not required in order to take the examination).   For information on obtain EMT certification, go to:   http://www.seattle.gov/fire/employment/ffjob_EMT.htm       Candidates who successfully pass all portions of the examination and, prior to being hired by the Fire Department, will be given a list of options to acquire their EMT certification to be qualified for appointment.

   

SCOPE OF EXAMINATION:

A.        Written Exam:  A description of the written exam will be sent with your exam admittance slip.  You may see the written exam description at:     http://www.cityofseattle.net/fire/employment/ffjob_apply.htm

            You may find information on optional written exam study workshops at:

            http://www.seattle.gov/fire/employment/ffjob_studyWorkshops.htm

B.         Oral Interviews:  Candidates who pass the written exam will be scheduled for the first oral interview.  Candidates who are successful in the first oral interview will be scheduled for a second oral interview. 

Note:    The Candidate Physical Ability Test will be administered (by the Seattle Fire Department) only to the top 25% of those candidates who pass both the written and oral exams. 

   

Applicants may request reasonable accommodation to complete the application/selection process by filing a written request for accommodation at least three (3) weeks prior to the written exam and/or oral interview. Send your written request with appropriate documentation to Colleen Lafferty at the Personnel Department address listed above. Please specify the type of accommodation requested, supported by documentation, and allow for sufficient time for arrangements to be made.

   

   

FIRE FIGHTER EXAM DATES:

   

Candidates must be available to participate in all parts of the exam process as listed below:

   

Written Exam:  Saturday, January 26, 2008

Candidates who pass the written exam will be scheduled for the first oral exam:

Oral Exam:  February 28 – March 11, 2008  (these dates are tentative and will be adjusted as necessary)

Candidates successful in the first oral exam will be scheduled for the second oral exam:

2nd Oral Exam:  April 24 – May 2, 2008  (these dates are tentative – alternate dates may be necessary)

   

EXAMINATION PROCESS:  Candidates who pass all portions of the exam wilI be placed on an eligible list according to their performance on the oral exams (including veteran’s preference). Notices will be sent out to candidates informing them of their final score and ranking on the eligible list by approximately July 1, 2008 .    

   

The Personnel Department’s role is to establish an eligible list and, upon request by the Seattle Fire Department, to certify (provide names, addresses, etc.) the top 25% of all the candidates on the eligible list. The Fire Department will directly contact those individuals whom they have selected to proceed to the next step in the pre-employment process.

   

The City of Seattle is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all who are interested in becoming a Fire Fighter to apply.

   

The Seattle Fire Department makes all hiring decisions after a multi-step pre-employment selection process, which includes a background investigation, additional interviews, physical agility exam, psychological and medical exams.  A pre-employment drug test is required by the Seattle Fire Department.  Candidates must posses a valid Washington State EMT certification at the time of appointment.

   

NOTES:

   

A.     Candidates must pass each part of the examination process to be placed on the eligible list.

   

B.      All candidates will be required to present identification showing a photograph at each phase of the examination process (driver’s license, military identification, etc.).

   

C.     After appointment to a permanent position, the employee must serve a probationary period during which the employee must demonstrate the ability to perform the work assigned to the position.

   

D.     Applicants/eligibles must notify a change of address promptly to the Personnel Department in writing.

   

E.            Applicants claiming Veterans’ Preference (see application for specific criteria) for the exam must submit to the Personnel Department a copy of their long-form DD214 showing their honorable discharge in order to  receive veterans’ preference points.

   

   

   

   

FIREFIGHTER -  OPEN COMPETITIVE  online bulletin

Fire and Police Exams #F-100-01-2008   

   

9/28/07