Job Information

KENNEWICK FIRE DEPARTMENT
PO BOX 6108
KENNEWICK, WASHINGTON 99336
(509)585-4240
http://www.go2kennewick.com

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Updated: April 28, 2025

Classification: Firefighter/EMT

Why Work for the Kennewick Fire Department?

Kennewick firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/Paramedics have a passion to make a difference in their community by helping the people who need it the most. Working as part of a unified team, our men and women respond to all types of calls including medical emergencies, vehicle extractions, structure fires, hazardous materials releases, technical/rope rescues, and much more – no two days are the same. We strive to cultivate a work environment that reflects our values of honor, selflessness and competence, plus inspires personnel to continuously learn and grow that supports the health and wellbeing of our workforce.

Review the current Firefighter job descriptions here:

KFD Firefighter Job Description

Compensation and benefits include:

Competitive Compensation – Kennewick firefighters earn $86,000 per year starting out, just over $113,000 in their fourth year of employment
Paramedic Compensation - Certified Paramedics receive additional compensation calculated at (13%) of Step 4 Firefighter salary ($9,438 per month beginning in 2025). Retention of the paramedic certification beyond five (5) years results in an additional one percent (1%), for a total of fourteen percent (14%), of Step 4 Firefighter salary. Paramedics that choose to retain their certification beyond (10) years will receive additional compensation of one percent (1%), for a total of fifteen (15%) of Step 4 Firefighter salary.
Paid Time Off - Vacation accrual rates begin at 12 hours per month, and cap out at 26 hours per month in the 25^th year of employment.
Sick Leave - Upon hire, new firefighters receive 144 hours of sick leave. Then, during the first three years of employment, accrual occurs at 24 hours per month, and transitions to 12 hours of accrual each month after the first three years. Each new employee receives one-hundred and forty-four (144) hours of sick leave upon hire, and can accumulate up to a maximum of 1,664 hours.
Educational and Longevity Incentives - range from an additional one percent (1%), up to an additional eight percent (8%) depending upon the number of college credit completed and the years of service completed with the department.
Holiday Compensation- In the first week of December, a lump sum of compensation will be provided for work performed on all holidays stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The compensation rate for this is at twelve (12) hours of pay at the straight time rate for each holiday worked; currently, the CBA identifies 10 recognized holidays.
Health Insurance – Kennewick firefighters have low deductible health insurance for themselves and their families and only pay 5% of the cost; the City pays the remaining 95% and provides vision and dental benefits at no cost to employees.
Health and Wellness – Kennewick firefighters have access to fitness facilities in every fire station, and receive one hour per shift to engage in physical fitness while on duty.
Retirement Benefits – Kennewick firefighters participate in the Washington State LEOFF retirement/pension system, and the City provides an additional 5% of employee wages into retirement accounts with no match required.
Professional Development – Kennewick firefighters receive rigorous on-the-job training and professional development, and have the opportunity to train to become fire inspectors, logistics firefighters, deputy fire marshals, company officers, training officers, EMS officers, or chief officers.

· Specialty Team Assignments – The Kennewick Fire Department has three (3) specialty teams. Firefighters also have opportunities to be trained as HazMat Technicians and be assigned to the HazMat team; trained as Rescue Technicians and be assigned to the Technical Rescue Team; or trained as SCBA Technicians, all who receive specialty pay equivalent to 1% of Step 4 firefighter while assigned as a team trainee, 2.1% of Step 4 firefighter while assigned as a full team member, and 4.1% of Step 4 firefighter as the team lead.

The current collective bargaining agreement is available at: (City of Kennewick Labor Contracts).

About the Kennewick Fire Department

The Kennewick Fire Department (KFD) provides emergency and non-emergency services for approximately, 86,470 people occupying 29.8 square miles in Benton County, Washington. Services are currently delivered from five stations that are strategically located across the City of Kennewick. The department provides fire suppression, Basic Life Support and Advanced Life support Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Care and ambulance transport, hazardous materials response, technical rescue response, and fire prevention services. The KFD’s mission is to “Partner with our community to proactively reduce risk and mitigate fire and life safety emergencies for those who live, work, and recreate in and around the City of Kennewick.” In 2023, the department responded to just under 14,000 requests for emergency assistance, averaging nearly 40 calls per day. Of those, just over 70% were EMS requests. This is accomplished with two fire stations that have dedicated fire engine and medic unit staffing, and three fire stations that are cross-staffed. Between 2018 and 2023, the department experienced a 37% increase in demand for emergency services. The department has recently completed a Standard of Cover in an effort to ensure both current and future emergency service needs are met.

About the City of Kennewick and Surrounding Area

Kennewick is a fast growing community of over 86,000 located along the Columbia River in sunny southeastern Washington. Kennewick is the largest of the Tri-Cities, which have combined population of 258,000, and is a regional shopping and entertainment hub and an outdoor recreational paradise. The confluence of the Snake, Yakima and Columbia Rivers has produced an aquatic playground second to none. The area's waterways beckon water lovers from all over the region to enjoy sailing, power and pleasure boating, water-skiing, swimming, fishing, windsurfing, and much more. Kennewick is home to the annual Columbia Cup Hydroplane races, one of only 16 unlimited hydroplane race sites in the nation.

We proudly host over 60,000 visitors who come to view the unlimited hydroplanes race for three days of food, fun, and sun! Situated in the "Heart of Washington's Wine Country" the Tri-City area boasts more than 200 wineries within a 50-mile radius, producing some of the finest wines in the country. The annual Benton-Franklin County Fair and Rodeo showcases National Champion cowboys and bull riders, and brings in country and pop music entertainment stars. Kennewick is also home to the Toyota Center and the Tri-City American WHL ice-hockey team. The Toyota Center offers great sporting and entertainment events throughout the year. Due in part to the area's exceptional climate, golf is one of the area's most popular sports. Beautiful courses challenge the most experienced golfer as well as the beginner. It is a very hard winter indeed when a round of golf cannot be played nearly every week of the year. Shopping abounds in Kennewick! The Columbia Center Mall is one of the largest covered malls in Eastern Washington, and Downtown Kennewick is undergoing a revitalization focusing on creating a great gathering place in a comfortable, hometown setting, where merchants and customers are friends and neighbors.

Columbia Basin College and Washington State University Tri-Cities branch campus are located in our neighboring cities of Pasco and Richland. CBC offers a full array of Associate degrees and vocational/technical career programs, while WSU provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Kennewick's three high schools, four middle schools, and fourteen elementary schools provide a strong academic foundation for our children and their future. The City of Kennewick is proud to be "Building a Better Community" for our citizens.

Learn more about the Tri-Cities region! Visit Tri-Cities website.

Job Requirements

Age:
18

Citizenship Required:
US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident

High School Grad / GED:
Yes

Driver's License:
Valid WA State Driver's License upon hire

Ability to Read/Speak English:
Yes

Vision:
Vision must be correctable to 20/20 or 20/100 uncorrected and possess normal field, night, peripheral, and distance vision.

College:
Not required

Academy Certification:
Not required

Prior Experience:
Not required

Additional Requirements:

Certifications:
Be able to obtain a Washington State Emergency Medical Technician certification within one year of hire.

Schooling Prior and Post Hiring:
When hired, during 3 year apprenticeship program, completion of nine college classes is required.
Non-user of tobacco products.

Felony, Criminal Activity Disqualifiers:
Conviction of, or deferred judgment for, a crime which is a felony under state or federal law; or military conviction by a Court Martial that is comparable to a felony conviction.

Conviction of, or deferred judgment for two or more misdemeanor crimes or petty offenses, other than traffic offenses, under Federal or State law, or violations of municipal or county ordinance within the last five years.

Driving Disqualifiers:
Conviction of, or deferred judgment for three or more driving violations in the last year; four or more driving violations in the last three years; or seven or more driving violations in the last seven years.

Conviction of, or deferred judgment for any reckless driving violation within the last three years or two or more violations within the last seven years.

Conviction of, or deferred judgment for any DUI ( Driving Under the Influence), DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) in the last three years, or two or more convictions of DUI, DWI or DWAI in the last seven years.

Suspension or revocation of driver's license in the last two years; or two or more suspensions or revocations in the last five years.

Drug Use Disqualifiers:
Illegal use or possession of marijuana within the last three years from date of application.

Illegal use or possession of any controlled substance, other than marijuana, within the last five years (includes narcotics, steroids, ecstasy, or other controlled drugs).

Illegal sale or distribution of any controlled substances or drugs, including steroids, in the last ten years from date of application.

Additional Disqualifiers:

Violation of medical protocols or standards by certified health care providers that result in disciplinary actions, license suspension, or revocation.
Falsification, omissions or discrepancies of information required on the applications and/or on other forms or documents in any portion of the examination process.
Unable to qualify for Washington State EMT certification
Failure to pass any portion of the Commission's required exams.
Overall conduct and character of the applicant that demonstrates an undesirable behavior pattern including, but not limited to, interpersonal skills, dishonesty and/or integrity issues, repeated motor vehicle violations, employment terminations, thefts and/or illegal activities or a combination of such conduct and/or activities.

Once results are pulled, candidates who have successfully passed the NTN testing (Public Safety Self Assessment) will be sent an email with instructions on how to submit their CPAT verification and set up an online profile in the City of Kennewick applicant management system. If you have completed a CPAT outside of NTN, do not send your CPAT results until requested. Make sure to check you SPAM folder on a regular basis, as we have found sometimes our emails go directly to SPAM.

^{All candidates are required to complete and upload the following form: https://www.go2kennewick.com/DocumentCenter/View/13618/KFD-Confidential-PHQ-Supplemental-Form}

For additional information and to view our current eligibility lists, you may visit our Civil Service Commission website at https://www.go2kennewick.com/585/Civil-Service-Commission

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