Fire Department

To become a firefighter with the City of Spokane, you must possess a high school diploma or equivalent and a valid driver’s license. Before applying, sign up to take the Public Safety Written and Candidate Physical Ability test (CPAT) on the Public Safety Testing website. Be sure to select Spokane Fire Department as the location to send your results.

Written test scores must be less than 12 months old when you submit your application with the City of Spokane. The standard PST written test cost is $61, which allows applicants to choose up to two (2) agencies to receive their results. Applicants may select more agencies, for additional fees. Applicants who apply to agencies other than City of Spokane, or who take the test at a date or location other than the designated free test date in Spokane, are responsible for all costs incurred.

A CPAT is required at time of interview and must be less than 12 months old at the time of your interview. CPAT costs are the responsibility of the candidate. The cost is $154.00

If you cannot afford to pay for the PST tests, you may qualify for financial assistance through PST. To apply for a testing fee waiver, you must show proof of a verifiable financial hardship. Once they receive your completed testing fee waiver form, they will evaluate it and respond to you as soon as possible. Fee waivers are subject to the approval of Public Safety Testing and/or the agencies to which you apply. PST carefully reviews each fee waiver request before making a decision. Please submit this form at least two weeks before your desired test date.

EMT certification is not required before applying; applicants will receive their EMT training during the academy. Candidates that already have an EMT or Paramedic certification are still required to complete the entire 21-week program.

If the recruitment for firefighter is open and you have passed the written and physical tests, you can apply for the position with the City of Spokane. You may apply with the City of Spokane every 365 days. Visit the Classified Jobs page to submit your application.

A Civil Service Analyst will review your application and test score to confirm you qualify for the position. Veteran’s preference points will be applied to test scores when applicable, all eligible applicants will then be placed on a list in ranking order. You will receive an email from Civil Service informing you of your placement on the eligible list and your rank.

Eligible list rankings may change as more applicants apply, especially if the recruitment remains open for an extended period. Your rank may improve as applicants are hired or removed from the list. The list remains valid for one year or until exhausted, whichever comes first.

Applicants will be considered based on their eligibility ranking and are typically interviewed in the same manner. A representative from the Spokane Fire Department will contact you to schedule an in-person panel interview. The panel includes representatives from labor and management (firefighters, officers, and chief officers).

After your interview, you will receive an email from the Fire Department regarding your status in the selection process. If hiring managers do not select you, you will remain on the eligible list until you have been passed over three times. A pass-over is when someone below you on the list is hired.

If hiring managers wish to move you forward in the selection process, they will schedule a medical evaluation, a psychological evaluation, and a drug test. These evaluations are critical for determining your fitness to be a firefighter.

Please note that the drug test will include screening for cannabis. If you test positive for THC, you will not advance in the selection process.

Congrats! You are now a Spokane Firefighter. New hires will undergo a one-year probationary period and must pass the Fire Academy, EMT training, and various certifications to achieve permanent hiring status.

The City of Spokane Fire Academy is a 21-week program where you will learn how to be a firefighter for the City of Spokane. It’s broken into two parts: Fire Training Operations (16 weeks) and Emergency Medical Technician training (5 weeks). Throughout the program, you will engage in both hands-on drills and classroom activities to learn modern firefighting theory, tactics, and techniques.

You will be continuously evaluated on your ability to work as part of a team and in high-stress scenarios. By the end of the program, you will earn the following IFSAC certifications:

• Firefighter 1
• Firefighter 2
• Hazmat Operations

You will undergo a one-year probationary period following initial hire. After graduating from recruit school, you will rotate through various fire stations throughout the City. During this time, your performance will be assessed through drill sheets and daily evaluations.

As a probationary firefighter, you will also need to complete a series of tests at the 6-, 9-, 10-, and 11-month marks:

• 6 Months: Standard Operating Procedures
• 9 Months: Streets
• 10 Months: Practical Fireground Skills
• 11 Months: Gold Room and extensive evaluations by the Chiefs