The City of Westbrook, Fire & Rescue Department provides fire, EMS, technical rescue, and other emergency response to the citizens of Westbrook and mutual aid communities. Additionally, the Fire Department provides confined space standby, public education, code enforcement, and ongoing training for our team’s licensure and aptitude. With an operating budget of nearly 4 million dollars, the department employs 45 sworn full-time firefighters, 10 per-diem firefighters, and 10 call company firefighters.

The City is posting this opportunity to generate a recruiting eligibility list for potential future employment.

The department’s annual call volume exceeds 4,000 emergency service responses as well as hundreds of additional fire prevention education, public service, and life safety code responses.  The Westbrook Fire & Rescue Department is comprised of dual-role career personnel who rotate their responsibilities between fire suppression apparatus and E-911 ambulances. Recruits are required to successfully graduate from a six to eight-week new hire drill school and are compensated during training. Drill school training covers multiple topics related to fire, EMS, and specialty rescue operations. Once complete, candidates will move to 24 hour on/24 hour off/24 hour on/120 hour off rotation.

The city is willing to train a candidate with no previous fire or EMS experience if they are the best fit for our dynamic team.  While paramedic trained applicants are preferred, we will invest in a candidate who wants to advance their EMT training and join one of the largest teams of paramedics in the state of Maine.

The ideal candidate understands a commitment to public service, desires to serve on a dedicated team, is willing to learn and ultimately step outside their comfort zone to grow. Solid written and oral communication skills are important. The successful candidate exhibits empathy for others but can remain calm, confident, and competent in high pressure situations. Most importantly we are searching for a candidate who can work in a strong team environment.

• Responds to fires; makes forced entries into grounds or buildings; and cuts or pries open vehicles, machinery or collapsed building material to reach fire or to free trapped victims.
• Carries or drags charged or empty hose lines to fire scene, around obstacles, or up ladders; selects and operates appropriate class of fire extinguisher; hoists hose sections and other equipment; selects appropriate ladder; ascends and descends aerial ladder; and climbs, works from, and descends ladders carrying people or equipment and using appropriate safety equipment or procedures.
• Performs rescue operations by moving and carrying heavy objects, equipment or materials, or by cutting or prying open vehicles to gain access to or to free trapped victims or bodies; carries or assists conscious, unconscious, or deceased victims down ladder or stairs; climbs or crawls through confined spaces; responds to mass casualty incidents such as air disasters; and performs rescues from hazardous chemical or gaseous areas.
• Responds to medical and/or traumatic emergency calls by treating a range of illnesses and/or injuries during calls for service using basic and advanced life-support techniques; determines priorities for treatment and transport; operates various medical equipment and apparatus. 
• Attends fire, rescue and EMS related courses, seminars, conferences, and other non-departmental training.
• Recognizes and preserves evidence at all fires, with the goal of reducing spoliation; observes spectators at fire scenes to detect suspicious behavior; and during investigation guards premises where arson is suspected.
• Employees in this position are expected to perform other tasks as directed.

• High School Diploma or GED, with preference for an Associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with course work in emergency medical services, fire science, fire administration, business or public administration, or a related field.
• Must hold and maintain a valid Maine Driver’s license
• Must hold and maintain a valid Maine EMS license (Paramedic preferred)
• NFPA Firefighter I and II Certification (preferred but not required)
• Ability to climb ladders and work at considerable heights.
• Be knowledgeable with the locations of streets, principle buildings, and other physical locations within the City of Westbrook.

This position is subject to the following:

• Pre-employment medical screening
• Pre-employment psychological screening
• Pre-employment background and reference checks
• Pre-employment integrity testing

The Firefighter/EMS Provider Recruit testing process covers four areas;

1. Physical Agility Test
2. Written Exam
3. Public Safety Commission Interview/Assessment Center
4. Chief’s Interview

Physical Abilities Testing – What to Expect

Daily job duties of a firefighter demand a competent level of strength and conditioning. Applicants must pass a Physical Abilities Test (PAT). Testing consists of seven (7) job related tasks that must be performed sequentially. This is a pass/fail test based on a maximum time of 5 minutes and 30 seconds. During the entire test, candidates must wear either an SCBA or a 50 lb. weighted vest (simulating the weight of a firefighters protective clothing and SCBA). The seven timed tasks are:

1. Hose Hoist
2. Ladder Raise/Extension
3. Roof Ventilation Simulation
4. Attic Crawl
5. Ladder Handling
6. Hose Pull
7. Dummy Drag

In addition to the seven job related tasks, an applicant must also successfully ascend/descend the aerial and complete a claustrophobia test. These two tasks are pass/fail but are not timed.

Written Exam

This timed exam will measure both cognitive ability and non-cognitive (behavior orientation) and include verbal comprehension, verbal expression, problem sensitivity, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, information ordering, mathematical reasoning, stress tolerance, team orientation and motivation/attitude. To successfully pass the written exam, applicants must have a minimum score of 70. Study materials for candidates can be found at https://iosolutions.com/shop/?swoof=1&pa_examination=nfsi

• Competitive salary range of $20.15 - $30.02 per hour depending on experience, with additional education and training stipends. Lateral entry up to the 5-year step is available along with opportunity for overtime.
• Applicants holding a valid Maine Paramedic License are entitled to a $5,000.00 sign-on bonus to be distributed in two lump sum payments.
• A comprehensive benefits package includes medical (PPO plan at 12% premium cost, plus HRA reimbursement), dental, vision, life insurance (one times base salary), short and long-term disability, and employee assistance program
• Generous paid leave including vacation, sick and 13 holiday per year.
• Tuition reimbursement at 75% for job-related courses.
• Retirement program of the Maine Public Employees Retirement Plan (Maine PERS).

• Interested applicants should send their resume and letter of interest to the Human Resources Department at HR@westbrook.me.us.

The City of Westbrook is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBT+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

Applicants selected as finalist for this position will be subject to a comprehensive reference and background check, medical clearance (for Police, Fire & Rescue, and Public Services positions), physical agility test (for Police and Fire & Rescue), polygraph, and psychological exam (for Police and Dispatch positions).

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