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.
High school diploma or GED.
LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS & OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Valid driver's license.
Eighteen (18) years of age or older at time of application.
Certified to wear a respirator at SCBA level.
Washington State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Advanced EMT (AEMT) certifications.
IFSAC Firefighter I and II certifications.
IFSAC Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations certification.
Obtain Wildland Firefighter II certification within one (1) year of hire and maintain throughout employment.
Washington State Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention (EVIP) certification within two (2) years of hire date and prior to driving fire department vehicles in the 'emergency' mode
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Fire Science or Fire Administration or Business Administration.
Wildland Firefighter II certification.
Washington State Emergency Vehicle Incident Prevention (EVIP) certification.
Certified Washington State or National Registry Paramedic.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (ALL CLASS OPTIONS)
Performs interior structural firefighting activities, extends hose lines, raises and climbs ladders, uses extinguishing agents, performs rescue operations, ventilates structures of toxic smoke and gas
Benefits
Vision insurance
Additional Information
Department:
Fire & Emergency Services
Division:
Fire
Firefighter/EMT
Lateral Firefighter/EMT start at Step F: $9,227/monthly
Position Salary Range: $7,105-$9,227/monthly
Firefighter/Paramedic
Lateral Firefighter/Paramedic start at Step F: $10,473/monthly
Position Salary Range: $8,351-$10,473/monthly
Recruitment for 2027 vacancies will begin in the spring of 2026.
The Richland Fire & Emergency Services department is seeking Lateral Firefighter* applicants. If you are currently a professional full-time Firefighter with three years of consecutively paid experience at a like department (reviewed case by case), have successfully passed your probationary period with your current Firefighter employer, you may be considered as a Lateral Firefighter*. The Department maintains an ongoing and merged certification list for the Lateral Firefighter EMT/Paramedic position.
We are currently accepting applications and will be holding oral board processes monthly beginning April through June 2026.
In order to be eligible to participate in the City of Richland's application screening process, you need to complete the following items (in order):
Submit an online application with our agency by clicking " Apply " on this page.
Applicants are encouraged to attach a current cover letter and resume to the City's application.
Applicants must complete a Personal History Statement (linked here) to attach to their application.
Please review the hiring standards brochure HERE which includes temporary or permanent disqualifiers.
For more information on the pay, benefits, and hiring process, please view our Hiring Brochure .
*Lateral applications will be reviewed by hiring staff for experience with agencies with a similar structure to Richland Fire and Emergency Services (full time agency with frequent calls). If it is determined that a candidate's agency experience is not similar to Richland, the candidate may not meet the requirements for our internal lateral academy. Candidates in this situation will be requested to reapply and go through the entry level Firefighter process (to include PST written testing and CPAT physical test).
GENERAL SUMMARY
Under the general supervision of a Fire Captain or designee, performs skilled emergency and non-emergency tasks in the area of fire prevention, fire suppression, hazardous materials, emergency preparedness, and emergency medical services for the protection of life and property for municipalities, airports, and private industry.