City of Cranston - Firefighter

CRANSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT                                                                                                                    HIRING  FIREFIGHTERS                       

THE CITY OF CRANSTON DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL ANNOUNCES AN OPEN COMPETITIVE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION FOR FIREFIGHTER

QUALIFICATIONS TO APPLY:

·         A United States citizen.

·         Must be a high school graduate (will accept a high school equivalency diploma).

·         Age: Must be a minimum of 18 years of age by November 14, 2025

·         Weight proportionate to height and mechanical aptitude desired

·         Able to read, write, and speak the English language with familiarity of other languages

·         Copy of high school or equivalency diploma must be submitted with application.

·         Copy of valid driver’s license must be submitted with application.

Job Description: Firefighter

General Duties:

Firefighters are primarily responsible for responding to fires, accidents, and other incidents where risks are posed to life and property. Their main duties focus on protecting the public during emergency situations.

Key Responsibilities:

Emergency Response:
Respond to a wide variety of calls, including motor vehicle accidents, chemical spills, flooding, water rescues, general rescues, and fires.
Firefighting Operations:
Combat, extinguish, and prevent fires to safeguard lives and property.
Equipment Maintenance:
Maintain firefighting equipment, apparatus, and fire quarters to ensure operational readiness.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS):
Perform duties within the EMS division, providing medical assistance during emergencies.

Divisional Assignments:

Employees may be assigned to any of the following divisions:

Fire Alarm Line Crew
Fire Prevention
Fire Suppression
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Training

Hiring Process:

Firefighter Physical Performance Assessment

As part of the hiring process, applicants are required to complete a physical performance assessment. To be considered for appointment, applicants must provide a passing certificate from the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs.

The acceptable certification dates include:

October 2024
April 2025
October 2025

The certificate must be submitted at the time of appointment or included with the application. For more information on the assessment and certification, please visit the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs website at www.rifirechiefs.com.

Examination Process

The examination process for firefighter recruitment will consist of the following steps:

Written Aptitude Test:
Applicants must take a job-related written aptitude test. A passing grade of 70 or above is required to remain in the recruitment process. Failure to achieve this score will result in elimination from further participation.
Physical Tests:
Successful candidates from the written test will be scheduled for the following physical assessments:
Swim test
Aerial ladder climb
Test for claustrophobia
These physical tests will be scored on a Pass/Fail basis.
EMT License Requirements:
A Rhode Island EMT-B (Basic) license is required at the time of appointment.
Candidates must obtain a Rhode Island EMT Cardiac license within 12 months of appointment*.
Additional Evaluations:
Candidates selected to fill vacancies must pass a physical examination, psychological examination, and a criminal background check.
All applicants who successfully pass these tests will be placed on the Civil Service eligibility list. Candidates will be ranked on the eligibility register according to their final grade. This list will be used to fill all future vacancies in accordance with Civil Service Rules and Regulations. The list will remain active for two years and may be extended for an additional year upon the recommendation of the Personnel Director and approval by the Mayor.

Preference for Veterans
Veterans’ Preference: Honorably discharged active duty veterans who receive a passing grade on the written aptitude test will have five (5) points added to their final grade. Disabled active duty veterans will have ten (10) points added to their final grade. To receive credit for veterans’ preference, applicants must provide a DD 214 upon application. Disabled veterans must also submit proof of their disability classification by the Veterans’ Administration and describe the nature of their disability.

Eligible Veteran Dates: The following periods define active duty war veterans:

December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946
June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955
July 1, 1958, to January 1, 1959
August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975
August 20, 1982, to December 31, 1987
December 20, 1989, to January 31, 1990
August 2, 1990, to May 1, 1994
September 18, 2001, to a date prescribed by law, an Act of Congress, or Presidential Proclamation
October 16, 2002, to a date prescribed by law, an Act of Congress, or Presidential Proclamation

The definition of a veteran is further expanded to include “any person who honorably served in the armed forces in any conflict or undeclared war for which a campaign ribbon or expeditionary medal was earned and who was honorably discharged from the service.”

If you have been honorably discharged from active duty in Iraq, please submit a copy of your DD 214. The City will assess whether your status qualifies you for veteran points based on your service.

Important Exam and License Information

· No Make-Up Dates: Please be advised that there are no make-up dates for any exams conducted by the City of Cranston. Failure to appear will result in automatic failure and elimination from the recruitment process. Arrive on time and prepared to ensure your participation.

·EMT-C License Requirement: All candidates must obtain their EMT-C license prior to completing their one-year probationary period. Those without an EMT-C prior to entering the academy will be enrolled in an EMT-C program during the academy. If a candidate fails to achieve EMT-C licensing during the academy, they will be required to obtain it independently before the end of their probation.

·Test Dates and Scores Notification: You will receive notifications via email regarding all test dates, your final score, and placement on the civil service eligibility list. Please refrain from calling us for this information.

· Responsibility for Contact Information: It is your responsibility to inform us of any changes to your address or phone number. To report any changes, please call 401-780-3205.

·Civil Service Eligibility List: Once established, the civil service eligibility list will remain active for a period of two (2) years. It may be extended for an additional year upon the recommendation of the Director of Personnel and approval by the Mayor.

Physical Ability Test
Aerial Ladder Climb

·Objective: Candidates will climb a 75-foot aerial ladder set at an angle of 65 to 70 degrees.

·Procedure: Starting at the turntable, candidates will climb one rung at a time, nonstop, to the top rung. Upon reaching the top, candidates must snap in* and then descend back down to the turntable. A safety rope will be attached to each candidate for safety.

*Note: This procedure will be explained before the test.

·Job Relatedness: Firefighters and rescue personnel must operate at high altitudes on various types of ladders and rooftops. While ladder climbing techniques will be taught during training, having an inherent fear of heights can pose safety risks for both the rescuer and the victim.

Test for Claustrophobia

·Objective: Candidates will be required to wear a darkened Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) mask and navigate through a narrow, dark passageway without lengthy delays.

·Job Relatedness: Firefighters often operate in confined spaces with limited visibility to rescue victims or locate the fire source.

· Suggestion: Candidates may wear knee pads or shin guards; however, these will not be provided.

Swim Test

·Objective: Candidates must swim 50 yards without stopping or touching the bottom of the pool.

·Restrictions: Candidates are not permitted to perform any form of backstroke while completing this test.

·Consequence: Candidates unable to complete any of these physical tests will be disqualified from the recruitment process.

Important Notes for Candidates

·Physical Ability Test:

Each candidate must pass all portions of the physical ability test to complete the testing process. Candidates will be required to sign a statement releasing the City of Cranston from any claims resulting from injuries or accidents sustained during the ability test. The responsibility for taking this test rests solely with the candidate.

·Contact Information:

Please direct any questions regarding the firefighter position to firechief@CranstonFireRI.gov.

About Firefighter Jobs

·Application Deadline:

Job postings close at 11:59 PM (Eastern) on the specified deadline date or when the position capacity has been met. If no deadline is indicated in the announcement, the agency retains the right to set the deadline, and jobs may close without prior notice. It is the applicant's responsibility to thoroughly read and understand the deadline requirements and capacity limits outlined by the agency.

·Monitoring Updates:

Applicants are responsible for checking their email and logging into their FirefighterApp account to stay updated on any changes or announcements related to their application status.