Fire Department · Career
West Des Moines Fire Department
West Des Moines, IA · Polk County
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗The West Des Moines Fire Department (WDMFD) traces its roots to October 1893, when the City Council formed its first fire committee and named Benjamin Manning as chief, relying on volunteer bucket brigades before the city's first station and hose cart arrived in 1900. The department professionalized over the following decades, hiring its first full-time administrator in 1973, its first full-time chief in 1978, and its first full-time firefighters in 1988. Today WDMFD operates from five stations across the city with career crews on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Under Fire and EMS Chief Craig Leu, who took over in 2015 and was named combined Fire and EMS Chief in 2020, the department provides all-hazards emergency response, advanced non-transport EMS, hazardous materials response, and specialized rescue including water rescue, vehicle extrication, and search-and-rescue. A separate Fire Prevention Division enforces the city's fire code, handles inspections, permits, plan review, and fire investigations, and runs public education programs including a Citizens Fire Academy. The department holds a Class 2 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), reflecting a high standard of fire protection for the community.
WDMFD hires full-time firefighters as civil service positions, drawing from a certified eligibility list that the city typically refreshes each spring. New hires complete Firefighter and EMT-Basic certification training as part of onboarding, joining a department whose recent growth includes the 2002 opening of Station 18 (home to the department's memorial and museum) and the 2007 opening of Station 19, which added full-time firefighter staffing in 2014.
MissionDedicated to saving life and property.
The West Des Moines Fire Department hires full-time firefighters as civil service employees. When positions open, the department hires from a certified civil service eligibility list that is typically refreshed each spring and stays active for about 12 months; candidates must apply to a specific posted opening even if they already maintain a candidate profile with the city.
Requirements
- High school graduate or GED
- Pass a written civil service exam
- Pass a criminal background check
- Complete an oral interview
- Pass a medical exam and drug screening
- Pass a candidate physical ability test (CPAT)
- Complete Firefighter and EMT-B certification training
Hiring process
- Create a candidate profile on the City of West Des Moines Human Resources website
- Apply to a specific job posting when a firefighter position is announced (a standing candidate profile alone does not count as an application)
- Meet required qualifications: civil service exam, background check, oral interview, medical exam and drug screening, and CPAT
- Complete Firefighter and EMT-B certification training
- Sign up for eUpdates on the Human Resources website to be notified of new job postings
New hires complete Firefighter and EMT-Basic certification training as part of the hiring process.
How do I become a firefighter with the West Des Moines Fire Department?
Create a candidate profile on the City of West Des Moines Human Resources website, then apply to a specific firefighter posting when one is announced. Selection includes a written civil service exam, background check, oral interview, medical exam and drug screening, and a candidate physical ability test (CPAT).
What are the requirements to become a West Des Moines firefighter?
Applicants must be a high school graduate or hold a GED, pass a written civil service exam and background check, complete an oral interview, pass a medical exam and drug screening and a CPAT, and complete Firefighter and EMT-B certification training.
Does the West Des Moines Fire Department hire from a civil service list?
Yes. The department hires full-time firefighters from a certified civil service eligibility list, which typically stays active for about 12 months; a new list is generally created starting each spring.
How many fire stations does West Des Moines have?
The West Des Moines Fire Department operates five career stations located throughout the city, staffed 24/7/365.
What ISO rating does the West Des Moines Fire Department hold?
The department holds a Class 2 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), reflecting high-quality fire protection for the community.