Fire Department · Combination
West Thurston Regional Fire Authority
Olympia, WA · Thurston County
No active openings right now
Watch this department to be notified when West Thurston Regional Fire Authority is hiring, or check their careers page.
Department careers page ↗West Thurston Regional Fire Authority (WTRFA) is the largest fire department by geography in Thurston County, serving a largely rural area southwest of Olympia. The RFA was formed from the consolidation of two long-standing fire districts: Thurston County Fire District #1 (Rochester/Grand Mound), established in 1947, and Fire Protection District #11 (Littlerock), formed by community vote in 1957, whose first apparatus was a 1936 Ford engine purchased for $500. District #14 merged into District #1 in 2002, and the two remaining districts consolidated in the 2010s to form WTRFA, the fourth Regional Fire Authority in Washington State.
The department is funded through a mix of a non-voted regular property tax levy, a voted Maintenance & Operations levy, and voter-approved bonds, supplemented by patient transport revenue and limited grant funding. Increased M&O levy funding allowed the RFA to staff 4-5 fire stations more regularly starting around 2017, and the department improved its Public Protection Classification rating from PPC5 to PPC4 in 2018, placing it among the top 10% of departments statewide.
WTRFA relies heavily on volunteer firefighter/EMTs alongside career staff, with volunteers completing a combined EMT and fire academy program before responding to calls. The department also runs a dedicated Fire Investigation Team (est. 2004) and a Crisis Support Specialists team that assists victims of crisis situations and supports the Critical Incident Debriefing Team.
Missiondevelop, operate and manage resources granted by the people of the region to preserve lives and property
WTRFA hires and trains Volunteer Firefighter/EMTs on a continuous basis, with volunteers completing a combined EMT and fire academy program; internal hiring preference is given to volunteers seeking career positions.
Requirements
- Firefighter I certification (IFSAC/ProBoard), obtained during academy
- Hazardous Materials Awareness & Operations certification
- EMT-Basic certification with National Registry (NREMT)
- No prior experience required
- Preference for living relatively close to the district for call-back response
- Maintain minimum 36 hours of on-duty shift time per month
- Maintain 80% academic average and perfect attendance during academy
Hiring process
- Submit online application
- Complete EMT course (3-4 months, two weeknights plus alternating Saturdays)
- Complete Fire Academy (3-4 months, two weeknights plus one weekend day every other week)
- Begin on-duty shift rotation and community outreach participation
Benefits
Increased stipends for various situations, leadership development pathway, all training and equipment provided, and internal hiring preference for career firefighter/EMT positions.
New volunteers complete a sequential EMT course followed by a Fire Academy, together totaling 6-8 months; first-year recruits should expect 300-400 hours of training, events, and initial service.
Do I need firefighting or EMS experience to apply?
No prior experience is needed. WTRFA provides all training, including a combined EMT course and Fire Academy, and all equipment.
How much time does a new volunteer firefighter/EMT need to commit?
New recruits should anticipate 300-400 hours in their first year for training, events, and initial service, plus a minimum of 36 hours of on-duty shift time per month afterward.
Can volunteers move into a career position?
Yes, the department gives internal hiring preference for career positions to its volunteer firefighter/EMTs.
What is WTRFA's ISO/PPC rating?
WTRFA improved its Public Protection Classification rating from PPC5 to PPC4 in 2018, placing it among the top 10% of fire departments statewide.