Firefighter

Job Information

CITY OF APPLETON
700 NORTH DREW STREET
APPLETON, WISCONSIN 54911
920-832-5810
https://www.appleton.org

Updated: March 11, 2024

The Appleton Fire Department is filling open vacancies now. Applications will be accepted until Thursday, May 2, 2024.  Candidates must complete the NTN Firefighter exam, CPAT, and Public Safety Self Assessment (PSSA), and upload the required documents to be considered for this position.

Position Title: Firefighter

Salary Information: $64,000 annually

Benefits Information: Employees are afforded full benefits including medical and dental benefits, WI State Retirement, 457 Plan option, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and paid leave benefits.

Contact Person:
Kim Kamp
HR Generalist
920-832-6426
[email protected]

Department Overview: The Appleton Fire Department (AFD) has been serving with pride since 1894. The AFD has high standards and a strong commitment to excellence. AFD has 96 full-time men and women working out of six strategically placed fire stations. The community is provided 24/7 emergency response coverage by three rotating shifts working a 48/96 schedule. In 2022, the AFD responded to 7,184 calls for service. Requests for service included fire suppression, vehicle accidents and extrication, water rescue, heavy technical rescue, hazardous materials, and medical incidents. Emergency medical services (EMS) response accounts for 74.9% of the fire department’s calls for service. Between 2018 and 2022, there was a 30.1% increase in total call volume, which includes a 37.8% increase in medical emergencies. While the AFD provides response to all medical emergencies within the city limits, a private ambulance service transports the patients to the hospitals. AFD will be transitioning to paramedic engines soon. The department completed nearly 5,000 fire and life safety inspections, averaged 200 training hours per employee, issued nearly 1,000 permits and licenses, and served close to 17,000 people with one of our many public education programs.

 

City/County/Area Information: The City of Appleton is in northeast Wisconsin, more specifically in Outagamie County, with parts of the city falling in Calumet and Winnebago Counties.  Known as the Fox River Valley or Fox Valley, Appleton is located 30 miles southwest of the City of Green Bay and 100 miles north of the City of Milwaukee. The Fox Cities Region is the third largest metropolitan area in the State and one of the fastest-growing urban centers in Wisconsin with a population of more than 250,000. According to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau, the City of Appleton has a population of 75,644. Appleton is widely considered the principal city of the Fox Valley, a grouping of 15 cities, villages, and towns linked by the Fox River, which includes the cities of Appleton, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, and the Town of Grand Chute.

The City of Appleton has a vibrant downtown which includes many local shops and restaurants, Lawrence University, a Performing Arts Center, and an Exhibition Center. Several festivals and gatherings occur over the summer months. Attendance can range from 30,000-50,000 every week with Octoberfest being the largest gathering with over 100,000 in attendance. The hub of the city, the Appleton Downtown Corridor, has seen an increase in population density as several multi-story, mixed-use buildings have been constructed with many more in development. The city is experiencing increased construction to the 29,244 residential households.

The City of Appleton is known for its numerous parks and a friendly, safe environment. The City of Appleton is served by the Appleton Area School District, which has three high schools, four middle schools, fifteen elementary schools, and sixteen charter schools. The largest technical college in the State of Wisconsin sits just outside city limits along with the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley, a two-year collegiate campus of the University of Wisconsin System.  The Appleton Public Library serves the city and surrounding areas.

Population: 76,000

Age: Must be 18 years of age or older

US Citizen: Must be legally eligible for U.S. employment

High School Grad/GED: Yes

Valid WI State Driver’s License: Yes

Ability to Read/Speak English: Yes

College: A minimum of 60 college credits, by the date of hire

Necessary Certifications:

• Certified Firefighter I (IFSAC or Pro board)
• National Registered as an Emergency Medical Technician

Additional Requirements:

• New hires must obtain a WI paramedic license within their probationary period.
• No tobacco usage
• Ability to swim.
• Ability to work from elevated positions.

Hiring Process:

• Department Panel Interviews: The Fire Chief and an HR representative will review the list of candidates who have completed the CPAT and written exam and select which candidates will continue to panel interviews.  Fire department members, along with an HR representative, will conduct the interviews.
• Chief Interview: The Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, up to two Battalion Chiefs, and an HR representative will interview candidates who passed the panel interview.
• Police and Fire Commission Interview: The Commission will conduct interviews with candidates who have passed all of the previous steps.  The Commission will determine which candidates will be eligible to move on to the next step.
• Eligibility Pool: The eligibility pool may be prepared and will be effective for a period of twelve months.  The Fire Chief/PFC may determine if an extension is necessary.
• Chief Interview: The Fire Chief may further interview candidates from the list of qualified candidates if desired.
• Background Check: Based on the number of current authorized to fill openings, background checks will be completed.  Background checks will be coordinated through the HR department.
• Conditional Offer: Upon the successful completion of the previous steps, a conditional offer may be given (based on the number of openings).
• Psychological Evaluation: An industrial psychologist will interview each candidate regarding fire and employment matters. The psychologist will also administer a series of tests.  The examiner is allowed to ask questions related to conditions that are protected under ADA and EEOC regulations, thus post-conditional offer psychological evaluations may be “medical” in nature and may produce evidence of a disqualifying mental health condition.  Candidates will be asked to complete various instruments related to their ability to complete training and perform essential job-related functions.  These tests will also help identify potential psychiatric conditions which may interfere with job functioning.  A thorough, semi-structured, face-to-face interview is also included in these evaluations.
• Medical Examination: HR will schedule the medical exam with the City’s Health Care Provider.  The exam will comply with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582 standards.
• Final Offer: Upon successful completion of all steps, the Fire Chief will authorize HR to extend the final hire offer.

Disqualifiers:

• OUI/OWI conviction(s) within the past 5 years or multiple OUI/OWI’s within the past 10 years.
• Any felony convictions.
• Any violence, theft, fraud, or arson-related conviction(s).
• Removed from a City of Appleton firefighter eligibility list within the last 12 months.
• Elimination by the Police and Fire Commission within the last 12 months.