Fire Department · Career
Vancouver Fire Department
Vancouver, WA · Clark County
Starting salary of $95,088/year with a CPAT certification required. Applications accepted from April 1 to May 15, 2026.
Starting salary of $113,112 with a CPAT certification required. Apply from April 1 to May 15, 2026.
Vancouver Fire Department (VFD) serves the city of Vancouver and surrounding unincorporated areas of Clark County, Washington, responding to more than 38,500 calls a year from 11 fire stations. Beyond structural fire response, the department covers 22 miles of Columbia River shoreline and provides emergency medical response as part of a multi-tiered EMS system; VFD's firefighter-EMTs and fire medics respond alongside American Medical Response, which has held the city's ambulance transport contract since 2015.
The department fields specialized teams beyond standard engine and ladder operations. A HazMat team established in 1986 responds to hazardous materials incidents and plans around bulk storage and rail/highway transport hazards throughout Clark County. A Technical Rescue team handles confined space, trench, structural collapse, and above/below-grade rescues in partnership with the city's Public Works Department, and the fire boat Discovery provides marine and water rescue, firefighting, and hazmat/technical rescue support along the Columbia River.
VFD is led by Fire Chief John L. Drake II, who joined after more than 38 years in public safety leadership, including service as a retired chief deputy of emergency operations and acting fire chief for the Los Angeles City Fire Department.
VFD hires through the Public Safety Testing (PST) process for entry-level firefighter/EMT and firefighter/paramedic positions, with a separate lateral hiring track for experienced firefighters. Entry-level applications ran April 1 through May 15; the lateral window ran May 16 through June 15.
Requirements
- Entry-level: minimum age 21 at closing date
- Entry-level: high school diploma or GED
- Entry-level: valid driver's license
- Entry-level: PST written exam score of at least 70% (85%+ recommended to be competitive)
- Entry-level: CPAT completion required
- Entry-level: current EMT or Paramedic certification
- Lateral: minimum age 21 at closing date, high school diploma/GED, valid driver's license
- Lateral: 3 years full-time firefighting experience
- Lateral: NFPA Firefighter 2 certification
- Lateral: EMT or Paramedic certification
- Lateral: CPAT required after conditional job offer
Hiring process
- Public Safety Testing (PST) written exam
- CPAT completion (within one year)
- City of Vancouver job application
- Interviews
- Background investigation
- Psychological and medical testing
Benefits
Paid vacation and sick leave, comprehensive medical/dental/vision coverage, Washington LEOFF II retirement system, specialty training opportunities, and tuition reimbursement.
How many fire stations does Vancouver Fire Department operate?
VFD operates 11 fire stations serving the city of Vancouver and surrounding unincorporated areas of Clark County.
Does Vancouver Fire Department provide ambulance transport?
No. VFD's firefighter-EMTs and paramedics respond to medical calls, but ambulance transport has been contracted to American Medical Response (AMR) since 2015.
Does VFD accept lateral firefighter hires?
Yes. VFD runs a separate lateral hiring window requiring at least 3 years of full-time firefighting experience, NFPA Firefighter 2 certification, and EMT or Paramedic certification.
What area does Vancouver Fire Department cover?
VFD protects more than 294,000 residents across 90 square miles, including 22 miles of Columbia River shoreline.