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Thank you for taking interest in the G.R.I.T resident program.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Participation in the resident program is a rewarding and satisfying experience. The feeling of self-satisfaction received by helping people in need cannot be described on paper. It is something each member of our organization values, and makes the hardships of the service worth enduring.
The residents are dedicated to helping people in need. They are a group of individuals, who are volunteers that live in the station approximately 7 to 8 days a month and are willing to give their time and effort to the challenges of the fire service. Many members have stepped up to full time careers in career departments. Most join our program for just this reason. There is no better way to prepare you for the rigorous testing required for hire into a career firefighter position.
This program is ideally suited for college students at least 18 years old, high school graduate and is pursuing a career in the fire service. The resident coordinator can assist you with your career goals in the fire service.
Snohomish County Fire District 22 will offer you the best firefighting continuing education available. This ongoing training will include structural fire attack, incident command, wildland fire fighting, EMS, Haz-Mat, fire prevention, and a host of other items. You will have the opportunity to work and train with other cities and districts during your stay. In return for your services, we will provide you with an opportunity to obtain up to 45 credits at the Everett Community College at no cost to you.
The Appointment Process
After completing the application packet, return it to the Headquarters Station once turned in, the selection process is as follows.
1. Selection packets are reviewed to see if you are eligible to participate and if space is available.
2. Persons found to be eligible will be notified of a date and time for a written exam based of the IFSTA Essentials Manual. The top 25 candidates will be invited to move on to a physical agility test that consists of various performance stations. All candidates who successfully pass the physical agility will then be scheduled an oral board interview.
3. The top candidates who pass the written and physical examinations, and the oral board interview will be scheduled to appear before the District Fire Chief for an interview.
4. Candidates deemed acceptable for appointment will be given a medical physical that certifies physical health; the Districts physician must sign this form.
5. Finally, the candidate must pass the background investigation.
6. Persons found eligible will be notified of a date and time for district orientation.
7. At the orientation the appointed persons, will receive the date and time for their recruit school.
8. You will be issued a complete uniform, structural bunker gear, probationary manual, study discs, and schedules.
9. Recruits will then proceed into the six-week rigorous recruit school.
Phase I
Recruit School
Recruit school requires about six weeks to complete. Recruit school is held Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for a period of two months. Upon completion of recruit school, other required classes will start for the remainder of the program. See attached schedule.
In recruit school you will learn every aspect of the job necessary to make you an efficient FIREFIGHTER, as prescribed by the NFPA and IFSTA. You will learn to put on your bunker gear, use Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA), tie knots, load and pull hose, raise and lower ladders, use power tools, and many other skills a firefighter needs; also, you may write an inventory of every piece of equipment on every apparatus owned by Fire District 22. An extremely high degree of discipline will be adhered too. Regular physical fitness training, inspections, and marching will prepare the resident firefighter for a successful firefighting career. The course is taught with the latest edition of IFSTA Essentials as the primary text, and concepts are adapted according to department policy as needed. The instructors are all seasoned fire service professionals, officers, and IFSAC certified instructors.
At the end of six weeks, you are tested on what you have learned and must successfully pass both the written and practical portions of the IFSAC Firefighter I examination. You will not be tested on anything you have not been trained on. If you fail either test, you may face re-testing, another recruit school, or in most cases, termination.
Phase II
Probationary Year
Upon passing both practical and written tests, you will have successfully passed recruit school. You will then move on to Probationary Resident Firefighter. An in house program that tailors what you have learned to Fire District 22’s policies and procedures. You will officially become a probationary resident firefighter and proceed into the remainder of your 13 month career development program where you will learn streets, maps, emergency apparatus driving, EMT, wildland fire suppression and various other skills necessary to work shifts.
The fire district will write a letter to the Everett Community College indicating successful completion of each of the 9 training components as the resident firefighters completes each. Each resident firefighter will have an opportunity to earn up to 45 college credits based on the job experience and courses completed. The credits earned are as follows;
19.5 credits for successful completion of recruit school
11 credits for successful completion of Washington State EMT program
2.5 credits for successful completion of the Wildland Firefighter II course.
3 credits for successful completion of an in-house engineer driver operator program
9 credits awarded based on the job experience gained in our 13 month program.
Fire District #22 will not furnish the resident firefighter with any required books, and workbooks. Recruits will need to furnish there IFSTA Essentials textbook and workbook. These materials can be ordered online at www.IFSTA.org; www.fire-police-ems.com; www.firefightersbooks.com. The average cost is between $50.00 to $60.00 for both the manual and study guide.
Fire District 22 utilizes a stipend system to help off set some expenses that a recruit may endure and are reimbursed after successful recruit school completion. Drill, responding to calls, and in some instances standing duty are all included in the stipend system, although the manner and amount for each of these is different, and somewhat complex. There is not a simple dollar per hour rate at which you are reimbursed, rather there is a “Stipend” system, and you are reimbursed according to an event. With this system, the more active you are, the more you earn. All this, will be explained upon appointment.
The program is not designed to allow you to make money but rather to reimburse you for expenses. However, if you get involved with the program, there is potential for a part-time economic benefit.
WHAT WE EXPECT
After successful completion of recruit school the resident firefighter will be assigned to one of four shifts A, B, C, & D shift. You will be expected to be in the station as part of a crew on standby 8 days per month for 12 months. You will be assigned to work with other more experienced firefighters and officers that will essentially show you the ropes. As you become more experienced your areas of responsibility will become greater. This could include becoming an engine company driver operator, deployment on state mobilization, or on an aid unit assignment with other existing part-time firefighters.
The resident firefighters at Fire District 22 play an important role in protecting the community. In times of true emergency, the District depends on the resident to fulfill their role. In order to meet these expectations, every resident must be self-motivated to do the job that has been described in this packet. This will require a sacrifice that goes beyond coming to drills and standing duty. This is something that must be discussed with your employer, school, or anyone else that may be personally affected by your fire department commitments.
We also expect you to be a part of our organization for at least one year. We realize that job opportunities and other complications can arise that would interfere with your appointment. Additionally, at your time of appointment you should have no firm plans that will interfere with the thirteen month program. The reason being that a considerable investment of both time and money will have gone into your training, we feel that a fair return on that investment is at least one years of service.
Any resident Firefighter that fails, quits, or is terminated for reasons indicated within the Snohomish County Fire District #22 rules of conduct policy will be obligated to pay the fire district the entire cost expended up to that point of a residents time in the program.
