Firefighter Position

Richland Fire & Emergency Services - Lateral Firefighter

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PROFILE DISCLAIMER

The information herein is provided by the respective agency and is only as accurate and as up-to-date as the agency representative(s) update this information. PST is not responsible for the veracity of this data as it is provided directly from the agency. It is ultimately the applicant's responsibility to verify any information about the agency with the agency.

Richland Fire & Emergency Services - Lateral Firefighter

Last updated on March 04, 2024
PST Partner Agency since August 21, 2023

Important Information

In order to be eligible to participate in the City's application screening process as lateral applicant, we have two requirements- a personal history statement and valid CPAT (any verifiable agency) within the past year. You may complete the online Personal History Statement (PHS) with Public Safety Testing (PST) or fill out our PDF version and attach to your application. The CPAT can be obtained from any provider (including PST).  For more information about the lateral position or to apply, please see the City's career center for specific requirements.

Important: It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure their online City application is current and complete, which includes having a complete personal history statement available on your PST profile. If you have acquired your CPAT from an agency other than PST, that also needs to be uploaded to your PST profile or attached to your city application. Applicants are encouraged to attach a current cover letter and resume to their application. If applications are received without these items complete, they will experience delays in the processing of their application and consideration for the oral board processes.

Job Description

Please click here to view the current job description.

Area Information

County: Benton
Population: 56,850
# of Staff: 91

Hiring Status

After completing the PST process, you must apply to our agency on the City's Career Center website. If a position is not posted, you can sign up for a Job Interest Card to be notified once a job posting goes live.  

To ensure no delay of processing of application material, please ensure you share your scores with Richland Fire Department and have an up-to-date personal history statement on your PST profile (updated within past three months).

Salary Information

Please click here to review the current IAFF Collective Bargaining Agreement for salary information.


  • Entry Level start at Step A
  • Paramedic Firefighters start at Step C- Firefighter Paramedic (includes an additional 13.5% of top-step Firefighter for Paramedic certification) 
  • Lateral hires start at Step E


Benefit Information

Please click here to review the current IAFF Collective Bargaining Agreement for benefit information.

Richland Fire & Emergency Services - Lateral Firefighter Requirements

Category Requirement Required at time of...
    Test Hire
Written Examination No, not required
Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Yes, required as described below

The City of Richland will accept CPATs from any verifiable agency, including Public Safety Testing.  The CPAT must have be obtained within the past year from the date that you apply for the position.  

Please ensure you upload a copy of your acceptable CPAT documentation into your PST account, so the City can review your materials.
Minimum Age 18
US Citizen/Lawful Permanent Resident Legally Eligible to Work in the US
High School Grad/ GED Yes
Driver's License Required Yes
EMT Certification

Washington State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Advanced EMT (AEMT) certification upon hire.
Firefighter 1 Certification

IFSAC Firefighter I certification upon hire.
Firefighter 2 Certification

IFSAC Firefighter II certification upon hire.
Prior FF Experience Required
  • Three (3) consecutive years of paid experience as a full-time Firefighter in a like department.
  • Successfully completed probationary period with current Firefighter employer.
  • Graduation from a career-based fire academy.
Multiple Scores from Same Applicant We only consider the most recent score
Request/Access Scores

On an as-needed basis as vacancies occur and to establish an eligibility list.

Please visit the City's Career Center to review the job posting and job description for the position. 

Richland Fire & Emergency Services - Lateral Firefighter Disqualifiers

The following are automatic and potential disqualifiers. Applicants should not apply to our agency if they indicate any of the automatic disqualifiers. Potential disqualifiers will be considered on a case by case basis.

Category Disqualifier
Driving
Automatic

You have been convicted of Driving under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years, or have two (2) or more DUI convictions. A diversion or similar action (First Degree Negligent Driving) is the same as a conviction.

Your traffic history precludes you from coverage from the City's insurance as a vehicle operator. 
Drug Usage
Potential

Evaluating prior drug use by an applicant for the RF&ES department revolves around the experimental versus the habitual user. Rather than immediately disqualifying an individual for prior drug use, the fire department tries to distinguish between the individual who has used marijuana or other drugs on several occasions (experimented), as opposed to a person who has regularly used drugs over an extended period of time (habitual).

Various factors may be taken into consideration when evaluating prior drug use by an applicant, and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Factors to be considered when determining eligibility include the type of substance used, frequency of use, if the use was experimental, and how recent the usage was. Experimental use is considered usage to determine the effects of a drug.

Another factor that may be considered is whether the prior drug use was self-disclosed by the applicant or discovered during the background investigation.

If at any point, the applicant is determined to meet any of the following disqualifiers, the application process for that individual may be terminated at the discretion of the Chief or designee.

TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT DISQUALIFIERS:

1. Possession or use of marijuana within the last two (2) years.

2. Use of non-prescribed oral or injectable steroids within the last three (3) years.

3. Abuse of inhalants within the last five (5) years. Examples include, but are not limited to, paint, paint thinner, Freon, nitrous oxide, and gasoline.

4. Possession or use of illegal controlled substance within the last ten (10) years. Examples include, but are not limited to, crack/cocaine, Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, MDMA (ecstasy), Hallucinogens (PCP, Angel Dust, LSD, and Mushrooms), Opium, Morphine, Heroin, and Methamphetamine/Amphetamine.

5. Use of any illegal drugs after submitting an application with any fire agency within the last five (5) years.

6. Involvement in the illegal manufacture, sale, delivery, or furnishing of any controlled substance or drug to another with the expectation that a personal benefit would be received as a result of the actions – Permanent disqualification.

7. Use of illegal drugs while employed in a fire, EMS, or healthcare capacity – Permanent disqualification.

8. Habitual use of any illegal drug and/or marijuana – Permanent disqualification.
Criminal Activity
Automatic

You have been convicted of any felony charges - traffic or criminal.

You have been convicted of any crime that precludes you from possessing a valid Washington State EMT certification.

Contact Information

Richland Fire & Emergency Services - Lateral Firefighter

625 Swift Blvd
Richland, WA 99352 Benton County
509-942-7392

Website
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Agency Test Requirements
Written Examination: No, not required
CPAT: Yes, required as described below


Other Richland Fire & Emergency Services positions

Firefighter
Firefighter-Paramedic