THE POSITION

Central Pierce Fire & Rescue (CPFR) is now accepting applications for entry-level and lateral Firefighter candidates who are interested in joining our team.  The pay rates listed above reflect the 2022 base Firefighter pay rates.  Individuals who qualify as lateral candidates will be brought in at $7,927 per month.  

The mission of CPFR is to Effectively Respond, Continuously Improve and Compassionately Serve the needs of our diverse communities by safely providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, public information and education, and prevention and code compliance.

CPFR protects a service area of 84 square miles (Spanaway, Parkland, Midland, Summit, Summit View, South Hill, Elk Plain, Portion of Frederickson, City of Puyallup and unincorporated “North Puyallup”) with a population served of 230,000. Our service area borders the cities of Tacoma, Lakewood, Edgewood, Fife, Sumner, Graham, and Joint Base Lewis McChord (which is one of the largest military posts in the United States).

CPFR has 11 active fire stations, with a 12th seasonal station, distributed throughout our response area. Our front-line uniform personnel staff and operate 11 engine companies, 2 ladders, 8 medic units, and 2 command vehicles. CPFR also deploys specialized units (brush trucks, Haz Mat, etc.).  The majority of the uniformed force is engaged in fire suppression and emergency medical service delivery.

In 2021, our system handled 33,822 incidents; this included 23,228 emergency medical incidents, 11,395 hospital transports and over 919 significant structure fire events.  For more information on CPFR in action last year, please review our 2021 Annual Report here (Download PDF reader).

Central Pierce Fire & Rescue is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We want to employ a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and we welcome candidates with diverse and/or multicultural skill sets and personal experiences.  For additional information about Central Pierce Fire & Rescue,

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualifications, KSA’s, Tools & Equipment, Work Environment and Physical Demands

Entry Level Candidates:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent and a minimum of 18 years of age.
• Valid driver’s license.

Lateral Candidates:

• To be eligible to be classified as a lateral candidate, in addition to the above requirements, you must have been employed for at least 36 of the last 60 months in a full-time paid position as a Firefighter with a municipal fire department, fire protection district or the United States Military.

Licenses, Certification and Other Requirements
A nationally recognized candidate physical ability test (CPAT*) will be required to be successfully completed and attached to your application at the time of submittal.  

The CPAT* assesses the physical abilities necessary to perform the duties of a firefighter.

The CPAT* certification must be dated within one year of the date of your application submittal date.   

You MUST attach written documentation of your CPAT* certification to your application or your application will be disqualified and you will not be invited to the Written Exam.

*CPAT = Candidate Physical Ability Test
Go tohttps://nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/cpat_info.cfm or call 1-866-563-3882
Go to https://www.publicsafetytesting.com/information-center/test-requirements-firefighter-physical/ or call 1-866-447-3911

Application Process

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and attach a current CPAT* certification with their applicationwill be invited to take the online written examination scheduled for January 23, 2023. There will be no alternative test dates. Applicants must pass the written test to move forward for further consideration.

FPSI’s Comprehensive Examination Battery with Practical Skills Test (CEB-PST)
All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications AND who have attached a current CPAT certification to their application, will be emailed a Candidate Orientation Guide that includes sample practice test items.  

Veteran’s Preference 
Applicants who are eligible for veteran’s scoring criteria (Veteran’s Preference) must attach a copy of their DD-214 (proof of military discharge form) at the time of application to be eligible.

Individuals given a conditional offer of employment must also pass a psychological examination as well as a pre-employment medical examination, which includes a drug screening.

New employees must successfully complete a one-year probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.

This position is covered by a labor agreement between CPFR and IAFF Local 726.

THE HIRING PROCESS

The Recruitment & Selection Process

11 Steps

Entry-Level Firefighter Testing Process