1. The Fire Department will advertise for an opening

2. Take out an application

• Return application along with a copy of your birth certificate, copy of your diploma or equivalent, and a copy of your high school records.

3. Take a civil service test. (This test will cover general knowledge of all types of subjects and current events.)

If you place in the top of the group according to how many openings there are, then you move on to the next steps.

4. Pass a physical fitness – agility test

5. Pass a polygraph and background investigation

6. Be interviewed by a board of Fire Officers

7. Be interviewed by the City Manager, the Human Resource Director, and the Fire Chief

8. Pass a physical exam & psychological evaluation

What Are Some Of The Benefits of Being A Firefighter

• Starting pay is around $49,000 per year (without paramedic certification) and $52,000 (with paramedic certification)
• Medical Insurance
• You get 2 weeks paid vacations per year which increases to 3 weeks after 8 years and to 4 weeks after 15 then to 5 weeks after 25 years
• You work 24 hours on duty then have 48 hours off duty
• All schools and training are paid for by the department
• You have the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping your community and it’s citizens

Once you are hired as a Piqua Firefighter, if you do not have your certifications,  the city will send you to a basic Firefighting School. This is a 240-hour course. Then when that is completed you will be enrolled in EMTB (Emergency Medical Technician Basic) class, this is about 240 hours. Next is Paramedic school, this takes about 2 years and lots of studying to complete. You must maintain your certification as an EMT/Paramedic for your entire career.

Besides going to schools and training – firefighters also do building inspections and preplans, clean and maintain the building, test all the equipment the fire department has from daily checks to yearly checks and maintenance, test and paint all the fire hydrants in town, do public fire safety programs, and help the city prepare for all types of disasters.

Being a firefighter takes a lot of determination and hard work. And it’s worth every bit of it. If you are serious about becoming a firefighter, contact your local fire department and set up a time to talk to someone about it.