LATERAL Firefighter & Firefighter/Paramedic

Position Description

West Pierce Fire & Rescue (WPFR) anticipates hiring up to 26 positions, to begin employment in January 2027. Please see the LATERAL Firefighter & Firefighter/Paramedic FAQ on our Career Resources webpage for more information.

Minimum Requirements

• Currently employed as a Firefighter or Firefighter/Paramedic with a minimum of 12 consecutive months of full-time paid service with a municipal fire department, fire district, fire authority, or comparable public fire agency.
• Successful completion of probation with current employer.
• Current National Registry or Washington State EMT or Paramedic certification.
• IFSAC or Pro Board Firefighter I and Firefighter II certifications.
• HazMat Awareness and Operations certifications.
• Ability to obtain Washington State reciprocity/certifications prior to completion of probation.

Salary Range

• Lateral Firefighter/EMT: $8,389 to $9,781 monthly.
• Lateral Firefighter/Paramedic: $9,438 to $11,004 monthly.

Benefits

WPFR provides a generous benefits package and opportunity for a variety of pay incentives. Please see the Benefits tab for more information.

Longevity Pay

• Based upon their aggregate qualifying years of full-time paid fire service at the time of employment with West Pierce Fire & Rescue.
• Paid in accordance with Article 2.2 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the employee's total qualifying years of service.

Vacation Accruals

• Effective upon successful completion of probation and one (1) year of continuous employment with WPFR, lateral entry employees hired into the suppression division shall accrue vacation leave based on the tier below that corresponds with their aggregate qualifying service (as defined via Longevity Pay notation).

Academy & Probation

• Lateral hires must successfully complete an six-week Mini Academy and six-month probationary period, consisting of a minimum of 36 full 24-hour shifts.

Essential Job Functions

• Respond to fire incidents, mass casualty incidents, natural disasters and other emergency incidents, serving as an active member of the incident management system (IMS) as assigned by the incident commander, up to and including actively, physically participating in efforts to effectively mitigate the incident.
• Drive district response vehicles to emergency incidents, non-emergency incidents and during routine duties.
• Perform duties at emergency incidents, such as placing equipment, laying and connecting hoses and nozzles, serving as the pump operator and/or ladder operator, raising and climbing ladders, removing persons from danger, using chemical extinguishing agents and other tools and equipment, etc.
• Deliver/administer medical treatment and transportation to injured and ill patients, as required, in accordance with local, state, and nationally recognized standards.
• Participate in training activities, pre-fire planning, inspections, public education, and other programs that enhance a high state of readiness to respond to all types of emergency situations.
• Attend meetings and training sessions, as required by local, state, and contractual requirements.
• Maintain necessary and accurate records and incident reports.
• Communicate to a culturally diverse community in a tactful and effective manner.
• Obtain and maintain EMT-B certification within Pierce County.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Recruiting Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Valid driver's license allowing legal driving in the State of Washington.
• Experience in all of the major function areas of the job description.
• College level education and continuing education opportunities that enhance the candidate's ability to perform essential functions of the job.
• Ability to communicate in language(s), in addition to English.

Supplemental Information

• Our primary form of communication is email. It is important to check messages frequently. The timeline and date(s) are subject to change without notice. We will advise candidates of any changes as quickly as possible via email.
• *WPFR does not charge application and/or exam fees. There is no cost to participate in this process.
• Please see the FAQs for specific details about this process. Any question not addressed may be sent via email to employment@westpierce.org.