About Vancouver Fire

VFD is committed to safeguarding lives, property, and the environment within our community. Currently responding out of 11 stations with over 220 frontline fire personnel, VFD is the largest and busiest fire department in southwest Washington and responds to over 40,000 calls per year. Vancouver firefighters serve the community in many ways including fighting fires, providing emergency medical care through our state–of–the–art Emergency Medical Service (EMS) program, responding to hazardous materials incidents, performing on specialty response teams, and providing education to the community. Vancouver firefighters work as a team to provide the community with professional, effective, and compassionate service.

Minimum requirements

Entry-level firefighter & firefighter/paramedic

• 21 years old at application closing date (May 15)
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Valid driver’s license
• Firefighting experience is desired but not required
• Minimum PST written test score of 70% (a competitive score is usually at least 85%)
• Successful completion of CPAT to apply
• Current Paramedic certification for FF/Paramedic applicants (must be eligible for Washington reciprocity)
• Current EMT certification for Firefighter applicants

Salary

• Firefighter/Paramedic starting salary: $113,112 (2026 contract negotiations are underway)
• Firefighter starting salary: $95,088 (2026 contract negotiations are underway)

Lateral firefighter

• 21 years at application closing date (June15)
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Valid driver’s license
• Successful completion of CPAT after a conditional job offer, not required to apply
• 3 years full-time firefighting experience is required
• NFPA Firefighter 2 certification or equivalent
• EMT or Paramedic certification (must be eligible for Washington reciprocity)

Salary

• FF/Paramedic Salary Range: $113,112 – $147,828 depending on experience* (2026 contract negotiations are underway)
• FF/EMT Salary Range: $95,088 – $129,792 depending on experience* (2026 contract negotiations are underway)

*Starting salary step commensurate with years of full-time experience divided by 2. For example, a Lateral Firefighter coming in with 8 years of full-time experience would start at Step 4. Per IAFF Local 452 2023-2025 Labor Agreement.

Benefits

• Firefighters work a four platoon 24-on/48-off/24-on/96-off schedule with 11 debit shifts per year
• Paid vacation and sick leave with generous accruals
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage for employee and family
• Competitive public safety retirement plan – Washington State LEOFF II
• Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ (LEOFF) Retirement System

LEOFF Plan 2 is a defined benefit plan, a retirement plan in which your benefit is based on a formula rather than an account balance. The formula provides a monthly benefit based on your years of service and your Final Average Salary. When you meet plan requirements and retire, you are guaranteed a monthly benefit for the rest of your life.

You, your employer, and the state each contribute a percentage of your salary or wages to help fund the plan. The LEOFF Plan 2 Retirement Board adopts contribution rates and periodically adjusts them to reflect the overall cost of the plan.

You are vested in the plan when you have five years of service credit. Once you are vested, you have earned the right to a future monthly benefit. You are eligible to retire with a full benefit at age 53 if you have at least five years of service credit. Retirement before 53 is considered an early retirement. If you have at least 20 years of service credit and are at least age 50, you can choose to retire early, but your benefit might be reduced.

• Specialty training opportunities
  • High angle rope rescue
  • Swift water rescue
  • Fireboat and shipboard firefighting crews
  • Tiller truck operations
  • Hazardous materials response
  • Confined space and trench rescue
  • Structural collapse rescue
  • Public Information Officer
  • SCBA Technician
  • Honor Guard

• Tuition reimbursement program and opportunities for career advancement

3-step process

1. Complete a written exam through Public Safety Testing
2. Pass a licensed Candidate Physical Ability Test within the last year
3. Submit a City of Vancouver Firefighter or Firefighter/Paramedic job application

Vancouver Fire will be accepting entry level applications from April 1 through May 15, 2026.

• Entry Level Firefighter/EMT
• Entry Level Firefighter/Paramedic

1) Written exam

The Public Safety Testing (PST) written exam may be taken from home, but many prefer to take it in person and there are several opportunities to do so listed on the PST Test and Event Calendar. 

2) Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)

VFD will accept a CPAT passing result from any licensed testing location in the United States or Canada. Detailed information about the CPAT is available at the following links for licensed CPAT testing locations in Washington and Oregon. The CPAT must be completed within one year of the date of application closure. If not taken through PST, the CPAT certificate of completion must be emailed to Megan Mairs (Megan.Mairs@cityofvancouver.us) prior to the application closing date.

3) City of Vancouver application

All applicants must also complete a City of Vancouver job application; a link will be provided when applications open. To be hired, applicants must be able to score well in a panel interview, pass a thorough background investigation, do well in a Chief’s interview and successfully complete psychological and medical testing.

Lateral Applications

Vancouver Fire will be accepting lateral applications from May 16 through June 15, 2026.

• Lateral Firefighter/EMT
• Lateral Firefighter/Paramedic

City of Vancouver application

All applicants must complete a City of Vancouver job application; a link will be provided when applications open. To be hired, applicants must be able to score well in a panel interview, pass a thorough background investigation, do well in a Chief’s interview and successfully complete physical ability, psychological and medical testing. Successful completion of the CPAT is required after a conditional job offer, not required to apply.

Life is better in Vancouver

The City of Vancouver is the fourth largest city in the state of Washington. Located directly across from Portland, Oregon on the North bank of the Columbia River, Vancouver combines the excitement of a major metropolitan area with small-town charm. Vancouver offers quality schools, a favorable tax climate, affordable housing, livable neighborhoods and an abundance of recreational opportunities.