Golden Valley seeks 10 new firefighters

The city will soon host a recruitment expo for the Golden Valley Fire Department.

"That is a really fun chance for people to come and try out some of the different things that firefighters do," Fire Chief Bethany Brunsell said. "They get to put on gear, they get to spray water from a hose, they get to use the Jaws of Life to cut apart a car, they can climb up the ladder on the ladder truck if they want to. ... It's really a fun chance to try some things out and see if it's something that they might be interested in."

The expo will be 9-11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, at Fire Station 1, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley.

There are also two informational meetings set for 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of the informational meetings.

People interested in this job can apply online. The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug 18.

Applicants should be at least 18 years old, have a driver's license, live within 12 minutes of a Golden Valley fire station, have a high school diploma or GED and be able to complete the required training.

"It's something people don't have to give up their full-time careers for. They still can have time for family and a social life," Brunsell explained.

In the following months, applicants will be interviewed, take written and physical exams, have medical and psychological evaluations as well as pass a background check. If approved, applicants become probationary firefighters.

Fire Training Academy is a joint program with Plymouth, Maple Grove and West Metro Fire. Students meet a few times a week learning about firefighting and hazardous materials. After about six months at the academy, probationary firefighters are trained as emergency medical technicians.

The department pays for textbooks, classes, an hourly wage for time spent in class — everything but hours spent studying.

"The first year is definitely the most intense," Brunsell said. "It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun."

After a year, probationary firefighters become apprentice firefighters. About two years in, they will be full-fledged firefighters.

Brunsell said the department would like ten new firefighters to go through the academy. Once they complete training, firefighters will work three-hour duty crew shifts. The majority of calls are answered by people on duty crews. Occasionally, more serious incidents will page people in the area.

Go to goldenvalleymn.gov/168/Become-a-Firefighter to learn more and apply for the job.