Salary: $6,533.00 - $9,628.00 MonthlyLocation : RFD Station 71: 1000 George Washington Way - Richland, WAJob Type: Regular Full-TimeJob Number: 2025-00007Department: Fire and Emergency ServicesDivision: FireOpening Date: 01/03/2025FLSA: Non-ExemptBargaining Unit: 1000General SummaryRecruitment for 2026 vacancies will begin in the summer of 2025. The Richland Fire & Emergency Services department maintains an ongoing and merged certification list for Firefighter/EMT/Paramedic positions. We are continuously accepting applications for the position and will be holding oral board processes on an as needed basis beginning in June 2025.Under the general supervision of a Fire Captain or designee, performs skilled emergency and non-emergency tasks in the area of fire prevention, fire suppression, hazardous materials, emergency preparedness, and emergency medical services for the protection of life and property for municipalities, airports, and private industry.To view the Richland Fire & Emergency Services recruitment video, please click on the following link: For more information about the position pay, benefits and hiring process, see our Please click to view the complete job description, to include essential functions and working conditions. Minimum Qualifications In order to be eligible to participate in the City of Richland's (City) application screening process, you need to complete the following items (in order):
Complete the written exam with Public Safety Testing (PST).Complete the physical exam (CPAT) with PST or any verifiable agency. Complete the online Personal History Statement (PHS) on your PST profile. (The CPAT can be obtained from any verifiable agency, but the written test and PHS must be completed with PST.)Submit an online application with our agency by clicking Apply Now on this page. Scores from the PST eligibility list with the City are good for one (1) year from the date of PST testing and must be current at the time of application to our agency. CPAT must be completed within the past year from date of application. Applicants are encouraged to attach a current cover letter and resume to the City's application.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Completion of initial written and physical agility exams, as outlined by the City of Richland's protocols.
- Valid driver's license.
- Eighteen (18) years of age or older at time of testing.
- Obtain a Washington State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Advanced EMT (AEMT) within six (6) months of successfully completing Fire Academy, and maintain throughout employment.
- Certified to wear a respirator at SCBA level.
- Obtain IFSAC Firefighter I and II within six (6) months of successfully completing Fire Academy, and maintain throughout employment.
- IFSAC Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations are required within the first year of employment based on the schedule outlined in the department training and development/JATC program.
- Obtain Wildland Firefighter II certification within one (1) year of successfully completing Fire Academy, and maintain throughout employment.
- Washington State Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention (EVIP) certification within two (2) years of hire date and prior to driving fire department vehicles in the 'emergency' mode.
*If you have successfully completed the Tri-Cities Regional Academy in the past four years, you will not be required to attend academy.*Please review the Hiring Standards brochure for further details on hiring standards, to include temporary or permanent disqualifiers.If you are interested in applying but have not completed the initial written or physical testing process with PST, please visit PST's website at www.publicsafetytesting.com for more details on how to schedule now to be considered for future testing processes, and to review the City's Hiring Standards for Firefighter applicants. We accept CPAT scores from any verifiable agency, including PST.Desirable Qualifications
- Associates or Bachelor's degree in Fire Science or Fire Administration.
- Completion of Tri-Cities Regional Academy within last four years.
- Washington State or National Registry EMT certification
- Washington State or National Registry Paramedic certification.
- Prior experience, to include reserve or resident firefighter.
- IFSAC Firefighter I and II certifications.
- IFSAC Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations certifications.
- Wildland Firefighter II certification.
- Washington State Emergency Vehicle Incident Prevention (EVIP) certification.
Supplemental Information Selection will be based on overall qualifications and an oral board interview process. Final candidate(s) selected will be required to complete a comprehensive background check to include an integrity interview, job suitability testing, reference checks, criminal history check, credit check, driving record, education and certification verification, and review of training records. Upon conditional offer of employment, candidate(s) must successfully complete a psychological evaluation, physical examination tailored to the specific job description (to include drug and alcohol testing), and a stress test.Summary of City of Richland benefits for IAFF R&F and IAFF-BC affiliated staff (union-represented employees):
- LEOFF Health and Welfare Trust 6-B medical and vision plan (employee/employer contributions), including employer contribution to a Health Reimbursement Account
- City-paid dental plan
- City-paid Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (equals two times the employees annual salary)
- Long-Term Disability Insurance (employee/employer contributions)
- Participation in the State of Washington's LEOFF II Pension Plan
- 10 Paid Holidays + 1 Floating Holiday
- Retirement Medical Trust
- City-match deferred compensation plan 457
- IAFF = 4.5% Match of top step FF max
- IAFF-BC = 4% Match of base rate
Vacation Leave Sick Leave Longevity Pay Section 125 - Flexible Benefits Plan (Medical/Dependent Care) Fire Education Incentive Program Employee Assistance ProgramVacation Leave Accural Rates*Rates subject to change based upon collective bargaining agreement (CBA). See CBA for eligibility requirements. For 2023-2025 IAFF R&F CBA, rates are as follows for shift employees:Length of Service / Monthly Rate of Vacation Credit in Hours*0 through 9 years / 1410 through 15 years / 16.2516 through 20 years / 19Over 20 years / 2101 Have you successfully completed the initial
written exam with Public Safety Testing (PST) and shared your scores with the City of Richland; or in other words, are you on the City's PST eligibility list?
Note: This is required in order for your application to be processed. Please visit to schedule your written and physical testing prior to submitting an application. Only proceed with filling out this application if you have your tests scheduled and you provide the date(s) in the proceeding questions.
- Yes
- No. Answering no to this question means that you have outstanding items to complete before applying. Please stop filling out the application, and visit PublicSafetyTesting.com to schedule your written and physical tests.
02 If you answered no to the above question, are you scheduled with PST to take the written exam? If so, what date? If not scheduled or not applicable, please write N/A. 03 Have you taken and successfully passed the CPAT exam within the past year of the date of this application? (If yes, and you took with another agency than PST, please ensure you upload the document into your PST profile.)
- Yes
- No. Answering no to this question means that you have outstanding items to complete before applying. Please ensure you have a scheduled CPAT with a verifiable agency before continuing this application.
04 If you answered no to having your CPAT, are you currently scheduled to take the CPAT? If so, with what agency? 05 Have you uploaded a current Personal History Statement to your PST profile? (Current means it has been updated in the past three months.)
Important!: Applications received without a current personal history statement in the past three months uploaded to the applicant's PST profile cannot be reviewed, and the application will be inactivated.
06 Have you completed the Tri-Cities Regional Fire Academy in the past four years?
07 If you answered yes to the above question, approximately what date did you complete academy? If no, write N/A. 08 Are you at age 18 or older?
09 Do you have a high school diploma or GED?
10 Do you have a valid driver's license?
11 Do you have a valid and current Washington State and/or National Registry EMT certification?
12 Do you have a valid Washington State or National Registry Paramedic certification?
13 Please list which certification(s) you have (for either EMT, Paramedic or both), give date(s) of certification(s) and certification(s) number. 14 Which best describes your secondary education?
- No secondary education (HS Diploma or GED only)
- I have some college-level course work, but it is less than 20 credits (no degree)
- I have 6 months or higher (at least 20 credits) of college-level course work (no degree/certificates)
- Associate's degree (other than Fire)
- Associate's degree in Fire Science/Administration
- Bachelor's degree (other than Fire)
- Bachelor's degree in Fire Science/Administration
15 Do you have a valid/current IFSAC Firefighter I or IFSAC Firefighter II certification?
- Yes, I have IFSAC Firefighter I Certification
- Yes, I have IFSAC Firefighter II Certification
- Yes, I have a IFSAC Firefighter I & II Certification
- No, my Firefighter I or II certificate is other than IFSAC
- No, I do not have either certification
16 Do you have a valid Wildland Firefighter II certification?
- Yes, I have a valid and current Wildland Firefighter certification
- No, I do not have this certification
17 Do you have a valid and current Washington State Emergency Vehicle Incident Prevention (EVIP) certification?
18 Final candidate(s) selected will be required to complete a comprehensive background check to include an integrity interview, job suitability testing, reference checks, criminal history check, driving record, education and certification verification, and review of training records. Upon conditional offer of employment, candidate(s) must successfully complete a psychological evaluation, physical examination tailored to the specific job description (to include drug and alcohol testing), and a stress test. Are you willing and able to go through this process, if selected?
19 Have you ever been allowed to resign in lieu of discharge? If yes, please explain. If no, please indicate N/A . 20 Have you ever removed yourself from an eligibility list? If yes, please explain. If no, indicate N/A . 21 Have you ever been given the opportunity to remove yourself from an eligibility list instead of being removed or disqualified by the agency? If yes, please explain. If no, indicate N/A . 22 Have you ever been rejected as a job applicant for issues raised by an oral board process? If yes, please explain. If no, indicate N/A . 23 Have your ever been rejected as a job applicant for issues raised by a background investigation? If yes, please explain. If no, indicate N/A . 24 Have you ever been rejected as a job applicant for issues raised by your work history/performance? If yes, please explain. If no, indicate N/A . 25 Have you ever been rejected as a job applicant for issues raised OTHER than an oral board, work history/performance or background investigation? If yes, please explain. If no, indicate N/A 26 Have you had any adversarial contacts with law enforcement? If yes, please explain. If no, indicate N/A . 27 I understand that I will not receive, nor am I entitled to a copy of the background investigation report, or to know its contents. I further understand that the contents will be used in the evaluation process for employment with the Richland Fire Department. Further, I understand that no documents submitted by me will be returned to me, and no copies of any other reports or documents utilized for, or during, my application for employment will be furnished or given to me.Under penalty of perjury (pursuant to Washington State RCW Chapter 9A-72), I hereby state and declare that all statements in this packet are true. I make this declaration fully aware that the Richland Fire Department and/or its designee(s) may choose to verify the truth of these statements through an integrity interview or a background investigation. Further if it is proven that I have made a false statement, I understand that this would be grounds for my disqualification as a candidate, or termination of my employment (if hired). Please indicate that you have read, understand, and agree to the aforementioned conditions and criteria.
28 Do you understand as an applicant for the City of Richland Fire Department, an incomplete application and/or failing the oral board process will result in a one (1) year waiting period (from date of oral board) to be eligible to reapply with the City. In addition, should you fail any part of the background and/or pre-employment screening process you may also be subject to a one (1) year or longer waiting period, and/or permanent disqualification (depending circumstances) from possible employment with the City.
29 Have you failed any part of the oral board, background, or pre-employment screening process with the City of Richland in the past?
30 I have reviewed the , to include temporary or permanent disqualifiers, and I fall within the acceptable guidelines.
Required Question