Lateral Firefighter (EMT/Paramedic)

City of Richland•Yale, WA

22h

About The Position

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. 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. 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

Requirements

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.
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

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Performs interior structural firefighting activities, extends hose lines, raises and climbs ladders, uses extinguishing agents, performs rescue operations, ventilates structures of toxic smoke and gases, performs salvage operations on the structural contents, body recovery, and Rapid Intervention activities.
Performs exterior structural firefighting activities, initial command and control operations, and defensive fire operations.
Fills incident support functions including rehab, staging, and Public Information Officer (PIO) commensurate with the needs of the incident.
Performs wildland firefighting activities commensurate with National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) training and agency certification.
Performs Emergency Medical Service (EMS) work as a Washington State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) per state and local protocols; lifts patients to backboard, moves patients on stretcher, gathers patient information, assists with patient care, triages and treats patients suffering illness or trauma and transports them to the appropriate medical facility.
Completes accurate and timely Basic Life Support (BLS) patient care reports, incident reports, and maintenance/repair requests.
Drives and operates emergency services apparatus to and from alarms; operates and monitors fire pumps used in suppression activities, secures water supply, monitors crew safety, and monitors and tracks equipment location and uses to ensure intact inventories after each emergency response.
Drives and operates all classes of vehicles used by the department; operates Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) as a passenger, troubleshoots and adapts to equipment failures and unexpected events at emergency scenes.
Performs non-emergency activities including, but not limited to, drills, training, building inspections, and participating in fire prevention programs, public education, and public relations activities.
Performs minor maintenance on apparatus, stations, and equipment, and assists with project and program work.
Performs special operations work in accordance with individual training and certification levels (Examples include hazardous materials, rope rescue, confined space rescue, and water/shoreline rescue responses).
Subject to shift work, 24-hour on call, and mandatory overtime as required.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Performs EMS work as a Washington State Paramedic per state and local protocols; lifts patients to backboard, moves patients on stretcher, and gathers patient information.
Coordinates the patient care activities of other EMS crew members as lead paramedic on various EMS calls; provides patient care, triages, and treats patients suffering illness or trauma, and transports them to the appropriate medical facility.
Works within assigned duties based on the individuals existing skills and abilities, and the division’s program and project needs by the Fire Marshal, to include, but not limited to, serving as the Department’s Public Information Officer, assisting the Fire Marshal with public education, fire investigations, plan reviews, and fire inspections to ensure code compliance.
Conducts building inspections in business occupancies throughout the community at all stages of construction.
Works a 4-10 or 5-8-hour workweek for a total of 40 hours worked per week, with occasional emergency call-back, 24-hour shift work, and mandatory overtime as required.
Works within assigned duties based on the individuals existing skills and abilities, and the division’s program and project needs by the Internal Risk Reduction (IRR) Battalion Chief, to include, but not limited to, supporting organizational EMS training and certification needs.
Provide public education that supports organizational mission.
Address needs to enhance and improve overall EMS delivery system.
Performs all functions of a Firefighter EMT/Paramedic.

Benefits

LEOFF Health and Welfare Trust 6-B medical and vision plan (employee/employer contributions), including employer contribution to a Health Reimbursement Account
City-paid dental plan
City-paid Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (equals two times the employees annual salary)
Long-Term Disability Insurance (employee/employer contributions)
Participation in the State of Washington's LEOFF II Pension Plan
10 Paid Holidays + 1 Floating Holiday
Retirement Medical Trust
City-match deferred compensation plan 457 IAFF = 4.5% Match of top step FF max IAFF-BC = 4% Match of base rate
Vacation Leave
Sick Leave
Longevity Pay
Section 125 - Flexible Benefits Plan (Medical/Dependent Care)
Fire Education Incentive Program
Employee Assistance Program
Vacation Leave Accrual Rates Rates subject to change based upon collective bargaining agreement (CBA). See CBA for eligibility requirements.