Lateral Firefighter (EMT/Paramedic)

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.

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE 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.

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

Selection will be based on overall qualifications and an oral board interview process. Final candidate(s) selected will be required to complete a comprehensive background check to include an integrity interview, job suitability testing, reference checks, criminal history check, driving record, education and certification verification, and review of training records. Upon conditional offer of employment, candidate(s) must successfully complete a psychological evaluation, physical examination tailored to the specific job description (to include drug and alcohol testing), and a stress test.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (ALL CLASS OPTIONS)

Duties listed are representative of the types of tasks and functions performed by positions of this class of work.  Percentage of time and rank of importance of duties are not listed since both will vary by position and work location. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• 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.

 
PARAMEDIC OPTION

• 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.

DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL OPTION

• 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.

 
MEDICAL TRAINING COORDINATOR OPTION

• Works within assigned duties based on the individuals existing skills and abilitie