2010 Spring Volunteer Hiring Application
BOULDER RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT
TO: Volunteer Applicants FROM: Chris O'Brien
SUBJECT: Introduction to Boulder Rural DATE: March 14th, 2010
As Boulder Rural’s Personnel Captain, I thank you for your interest in applying for a volunteer position or reserve firefighter position. Positions on this Department generally fall into one of two main categories: Volunteer Firefighter/EMT and Support. We hire volunteers twice annually on an as-needed basis. There is no guarantee that any volunteer positions will be filled upon completion of this hiring session. You must submit photocopies of supporting documents, certificates and licenses along with your packet for it to be considered complete.
All applicants must:
Possess or obtain a Colorado Driver’s License.
Pass department screening tests.
Pass a written exam.
Pass a physical examination appropriate for the position applied for.
Be at least 18 years of age.
Volunteer Firefighter/EMT
Must be CPR and EMT-B certified.
Participation in at least 50 training hours/year.
When appropriately certified, at least 1 Medical car shift/month.
Be Firefighter I (FFI) certified within 12 months of hiring at the Departments expense.
Staff 4 duty crew shifts (12 hours/shift) per month.
Support
Positions in this category may require previous experience or training, dependent on the position. Currently, our support members assist in photography, clerical, and administration. There are no ongoing requirements such as training hours for support members, although some agreed upon level or participation is expected.
All necessary protective gear is provided for members to use on BRFD calls at no cost. The Department also provides the required training hours.
In this application packet, you should find:
Boulder Rural “Facts and Figures” sheet.
Hiring Procedure SOP (Standard Operating Procedure).
Probationary Member Requirements SOP.
Active Member Requirements SOP.
Letter describing the volunteer application dates and schedule.
Application documents to be returned, which include:
Application form
Release and Waiver of Claim form
Authorization to Release Information form
I encourage you to read the entire packet carefully before submitting your application. By applying to Boulder Rural Fire Department, you are making a commitment to meet the requirements of Membership. These are in place to help ensure that the residents of our District receive the best possible professional emergency medical and fire suppression services.
Boulder Rural Fire Department is a combination department utilizing both career firefighters and volunteer Firefighter/EMT’s. Our volunteers are not amateurs, but rather “unpaid professionals”. BRFD puts in a considerable investment into its volunteers (i.e. Personal Protection Equipment, training, medical exams). We are looking for individuals who will contribute time and skills to the organization.
Though we generally hire every six months, I encourage you to participate in our trainings, schedule ride-a-longs and attend our monthly business meetings during the application process. A training schedule for the current month is always available at our Central Station and on our website at http://www.BRFD.org. Our business meetings are always held the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Participation as an applicant will help you to better understand the jobs that we perform and will prepare you to serve as a member. It also gives you the chance to meet the current probationary and active members, and for them to get to know you. There is also the possibility of applying for a “rider” position on the engine. This allows the applicant a chance to ride along in the engine and observe the career personnel and volunteer firefighter/EMTs in action. Come to the station and ask about an application to be a “rider”.
I hope that you will carefully consider your decision to join us at Boulder Rural Fire Department. Should you decide to apply, you will be joining a group of members dedicated to excellence in community service. Thank you for your interest in Boulder Rural Fire Department.
Chris O’Brien
C-Shift Captain
Personnel Division
Boulder Rural Fire Department
5075 Jay Road
Boulder, CO 80301
303-530-9575
BOULDER RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT
TO: Volunteer Applicants FROM: Chris O’Brien Personnel Captain
SUBJECT: Application Deadline and Testing DATE: MARCH 14th, 2010
This memo documents the steps needed to become a member. You are responsible for completing these steps. If you have questions, feel free to call.
The hiring process has essentially five steps:
1. Written application and accompanying forms
2. Written test
3. Physical agility test
4. Oral board interview
5. Chief’s Interview
Application. To be considered complete, your application MUST contain the following. Please do not include resumes, or certifications unless asked for.
Completed Application form [Click here to download Application form]
Signed and notarized liability release form
Signed and notarized information release form
Copy of Colorado Drivers License
Copy of Firefighter I certification if available.
Copy of current CPR and Colorado EMT-B certifications. If currently enrolled in an EMT-Basic course, you must show proof of class enrollment.
You may turn in your application anytime within the application period prior to the application deadline. It must be complete and come with all supporting documentation for it to be considered. If you are attending our trainings, you may be allowed to participate at a greater level after your liability release form has been received.
Both release forms must be notarized. Notary Publics may be available at banks, credit unions, car dealerships, real estate offices, and corporate personnel offices. Some charge a nominal fee (which is the responsibility of the applicant).
To ensure the highest quality of response to the people we serve, we screen applicants thoroughly. In addition to the pre-hire exams, we also include checks of references, background, criminal history, driving record, and others determined to be appropriate by the department. These checks continue into the probationary year and the results may be cause for dismissal. Falsification of application information is also cause for dismissal.
Application. The application must be printed neatly in pen, typed if possible. Upon receipt of the application, you will receive a letter on the status of your application. Any missing information will be grounds for removal of the applicant from the hiring process. Any information unreadable on the application will also be grounds for removal.
Written exam. Covers general aptitude, reading comprehension, math skills, and similar topics. This test does not require pre-existing firefighting or emergency medical knowledge, skills, or experience. This test is graded is pass/fail only. A minimum score of 70% is required to move on to the physical agility test. Those applicants scoring below 70% will be removed from the hiring process.
Physical agility exam. Since we require members to be able to meet the physical demands of the position, a physical agility exam is administered. The physical agility exam is a certified test based on the performance of simulated job-related tasks. Firefighter/EMT’s will have physical agility exams. This is a pass/fail test. The test must be successfully completed within the time periods.
Oral Review Board. The personnel committee consists of volunteers, volunteer officers and career personnel. Again, this covers material, which does not require pre-existing firefighting or emergency medical knowledge, skills or experience. The interview consists of approximately 12 questions. The oral board interview is graded and is used in rank ordering of applicants.
The hiring process is covered in our Standard Operating Procedures. A copy is included in this application packet. Please read it thoroughly before asking questions about this process. After the Chief’s interview, a list will be developed and those applicants scoring the highest will be selected to current probationary volunteer positions. The list may remain active and drawn from in the future, as volunteer positions need to be filled.
Deadlines and Testing Dates:
Application period ends: Fri Apr. 30 17:00 at Central Station, 5075 Jay Road
Practice PAT: Sat May 1 09:00
Written testing: Thurs/Fri May 6/7
PAT: Sat May 8 09:00
Oral Boards: Sat May 15 TBA
No alternate dates are scheduled. Physical agility and oral board interviews cannot be reassigned. If you cannot make the dates, you are welcome to come back for the next hiring period. Contact Captain Chris O’Brien at 303-530-9575 or via email: chris.obrien@BRFD.org .
If you have questions about Boulder Rural Fire Department or our hiring forms and procedures during the application process, please leave a message for Captain O’Brien at the above number or email.