The City of Bellingham has opened the Entry Firefighter NTN FireTeam Testing window for the January 2025 Academy. Test today through NTN to start the process of joining the Bellingham Fire Department and supporting our mission of helping people every day!
Firefighters provide emergency assistance and protective services to citizens. They are trained and equipped to protect life and property threatened by disaster, fire, explosion, hazardous materials, illness, accidents and other hazards. Activities include emergency prevention, emergency and non-emergency response, fire code enforcement, building inspections, training and drill and maintenance of apparatus, equipment, fire station and grounds. They perform a wide range of emergency work under adverse environmental and strenuous physical conditions. There is frequent potential for exposure to toxic chemicals, extreme heat, and infectious disease which require the use of protective equipment such as heat resistant clothing, self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and medical masks, gloves and gowns.
Firefighters may be required to drive fire apparatus or medical units and perform special firefighting, pre-hospital medical care, rescue work or other skills acquired by work experience and specialized training programs. Firefighters are subject to shift work and off-duty recall for major emergencies.
Starting 2023 wages for Firefighter:
Entry Firefighter - $7,038-
Entry Firefighter with Paramedic License - $7,038/mo plus $892.90/mo Engine Medic Premium until placed as Paramedic. Paramedic Premium is $1,339.35/mo.
The 2023 full monthly salary for an Entry Firefighter is $7,038/mo - $8,929/mo. Additional monthly premiums may be applied per assignment. Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) 106 Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy.
City of Bellingham employees receive medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as life insurance and long-term disability. Additional benefits include flexible spending accounts, a medical insurance opt-out program, and access to our employee assistance program. All eligible City employees are enrolled in a Washington State Department of Retirement Systems pension plan. Additionally, employees may elect to participate in the City’s 457 deferred compensation retirement savings plan.
Employees will receive 6 shifts off incorporated into the work schedule in lieu of holidays as outlined by the collective bargaining agreement. Upon hire, employees are provided a sick leave bank of 228 hours in addition to accruing 12 hours (40-Hour week) or 19 hours (Operations) per month in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and Washington State Law. At the time of hire, employees will accrue 10 hours of vacation per month. Vacation accruals increase based on years of service.
Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals and require employees to be paid status at least 96 hours/month.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:-
Responds to fires and other emergencies. Places equipment; lays and connects hose; operates high capacity pumps and directs water streams; raises and climbs ladders; uses chemical extinguishers, safety belts, lines and hooks; uses self-contained breathing apparatus; performs ventilation tasks above ground; and performs salvage and overhaul operations. Uses ropes, harnesses, carabiners, and anchors for special rescue situations. Identifies, isolates and mitigates hazardous material incidents.
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Provides basic and/or advanced life support medical assistance to citizens in non-emergency and emergency situations where life may be endangered. Sets up and operates equipment such as resuscitator, inhalator, oxygen, and cardiac monitor, defibrillation equipment, intravenous solution and medications.
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Maintains contact with communications center and Department to report initial observations, progress on handling incidents, and receive orders and instruction on handling event(s). Utilizes the incident command system.
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As qualified and appropriate to the incident, drives fire apparatus, drives medical or aid vehicles or pilots fire boat. Determines appropriate response routes to the emergency. Transports patients to hospitals or other destinations.
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Conducts inspection of residential, commercial and industrial buildings for possible hazards and violations of fire code requirements. May issue correction notices as directed by the Captain. Participates in the development of pre-incident plans on how to handle fire and medical emergencies at various businesses and facilities.
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Participates in the development and delivery of emergency prevention programs.
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Responds to various service calls providing assistance to citizens in situations that are not life threatening, such as requests for physical assistance, flooded basements, and complaints about unsafe or illegal burning.
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Participates in company and battalion training program and drill exercises. Instructs job skills to others. Researches, compiles, organizes and presents information at training and drill sessions.
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Periodically tests facility, equipment, apparatus and fire protection systems and maintains records of test information.
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Performs general and preventative maintenance on apparatus, equipment and facilities to ensure proper function and reliability.
ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:
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Performs administrative and technical support activities for Fire Administration on a regular or special project basis.
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Prepares and maintains reports and records within assigned area of responsibility.
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Performs other related duties as assigned.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment includes 24-hour shift work including weekends and holidays. Work is performed at fire stations, on various apparatus, on the drill ground and at different emergency scenes. Performance of hazardous tasks under emergency conditions may require strenuous exertion in environments with limited visibility, exposure to hazardous or toxic chemicals and gases, extremes in temperature, cramped surroundings, exposed heights and in and around water. Firefighters also work with citizens experiencing a wide range of emotions (rage, grief, confusion, etc.) as a result of an emergency. There is frequent potential for exposure to toxic chemicals, extreme heat, and infectious disease which require the use of protective equipment.
Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job, including:
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Carry hose bundle of approximately 50 pounds and don personal protection and firefighting equipment weighing approximately 70 pounds to the scene of an emergency (sometimes to upper floors of businesses, apartments and hotels).
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Lay and operate hose lines (160 pounds per 50 feet of hose with 100 pounds of nozzle pressure).
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Stabilize and lift patients with backboard and cot.
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Carry, place and extend ladders in training and in emergencies.
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Operate power equipment such as a chain saw, portable generator, hydraulic jaws, smoke ejector, etc.
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Set up and operate master streams and aerial ladder pipes.
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While wearing protective clothing, performs heavy labor such as chopping, shoveling, moving furniture, equipment and merchandise.
** You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along.** Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (Download PDF reader) for helpful tips about our process.
Step 1: Applicants interested in this position must complete the written exam (FireTEAM) testing through National Testing Network. Please visit the National Testing Network website (www.NationalTestingNetwork.com) for information regarding the testing process. In addition, a current and valid CPAT certification is required*. All written testing must be completed by August 26, 2024. Candidates will be notified of their results on or around August 30, 2024.
Step 2: All candidates with a combined score of 80.00% that also achieve the following City of Bellingham cutoff scores for each component of the NTN written test will be invited to participate in 8-minute speed interviews tentatively scheduled for September 9-11, 2024. If the volume of candidates requires additional days, September 12-13 may be added. Speed Interviews will be conducted via Zoom. The speed interviews are pass/fail.
NTN Test cutoff scores set by City of Bellingham are: Human Relations - 70%; Mechanical - 60%; Math - 70%; Reading -80%. Additionally, candidates must also achieve a combined average score of 80%.
Step 3: All passing candidates from speed interviews will be invited to participate in oral board interviews scheduled for
October 7-11, 2024. If the volume of candidates requires additional days, October 14-18 may be added. Oral Board Interviews will be conducted in person. At the time of invitation for oral boards, applicants will be required to complete a City of Bellingham application and submit proof of CPAT and Paramedic certificate if required, with no exceptions. Candidates must achieve a 60% on the oral board to pass.
Step 4: Candidates will be placed on a ranked eligibility register based on their scores achieved on NTN Written Exam (25%) and the Oral Board Interviews (75%), plus Veteran's preference. Final scores will be posted around October 18, 2024
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Step 5: The most qualified candidates will be invited to a Chief's Interview scheduled for
the week of November 4, 2024. Candidates must appear in person to participate in the Chief's Interviews.
Step 6: Conditional offers of employment will be issued to the most qualified applicants and background and reference checks will begin shortly following Chief’s Interviews. Candidates will be required to participate in pre-employment screenings, including a medical exam and swim test, in Bellingham sometime between November 25-December 16, 2024. Candidates will not be required to stay in Bellingham for the full duration of that time period but must be available to complete the medical exam and swim test in Bellingham during that period.
Step 7: January 16, 2025 - Successful candidates will begin Firefighter Recruit Academy.
The City of Bellingham anticipates hiring up to 12 Firefighters (Entry/Lateral) for the January 2025 Academy. This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available.
Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.
Equal Opportunity:
Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.
Fair Hiring Practices
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The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
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The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
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The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
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The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.