Thank you for visiting our Employment page!
The Williston Fire Department is currently recruiting for
on-call (part-time, paid) staff member positions.
See the information below to learn more about membership,
frequently asked questions,
and how to submit an application.
The Williston Fire Department is not currently hiring full-time career staff.
Why should I consider joining the Williston Fire Department?
First and foremost, it is a great way to serve your community.
Williston Fire also focuses on training its members to a high degree of excellence.
The community at Williston Fire is a very strong group known for helping each other out.
Williston Fire also focuses on training its members to a high degree of excellence.
The community at Williston Fire is a very strong group known for helping each other out.
Qualifications
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Live within responding distance from the fire station, which is considered living anywhere in town or within 10 minutes of the Williston Fire Station (determined by a Google Maps search done at low traffic hours of the day).
- Attend our training events that are scheduled every other Monday from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
- Complete the Williston Fire Department's orientation program.
- If you have no prior experience, you must begin a Firefighter Level One class within one year of joining the Department. The State of Vermont pays for the class and the department will provide all gear and equipment needed. Firefighters are exempt from Department training for the duration of the class.
Walk me through joining the Williston Fire Department.
- Fill out the Application for Employment below.
- A Call Lieutenant will contact you to give you our current timeline for bringing members onto the Department.
- We will then schedule ride-alongs at the station so you can see what we do and if this is a good choice of work for you.
- You will be scheduled for an interview and a physical agility test.
- Next you will have to get a fit for duty physical and agree to a background check. Both of these are paid for by the Department.
- If approved, you will begin your orientation program (see below for more info).
- After orientation, you will start running calls with the Williston Fire Department.
Can I submit an application to join the Call Staff now?
Yes!
Click on the link on the link below to download our Application for Employment.
You can email a copy of your application to
admin@willistonfire.com
or drop off your application at the station.
Click on the link on the link below to download our Application for Employment.
You can email a copy of your application to
admin@willistonfire.com
or drop off your application at the station.
| application_for_employment_call_02.18.docx |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Department structured?
Williston Fire Department is what is referred to as a Combination Department.
It is comprised of both full-time career staff and part-time 'on-call' members
who provide essential fire, rescue and safety services to the Town of Williston.
It is comprised of both full-time career staff and part-time 'on-call' members
who provide essential fire, rescue and safety services to the Town of Williston.
What is an on-call firefighter?
An on-call member is similar to a volunteer, except they receive an hourly wage for their time training and responding to emergencies.
On-call members have regular jobs and responsibilities outside of the Department.
They serve for the love of their community, the profession, and for their firefighting family.
Not many other opportunities allow you to make such a positive impact on people.
On-call members have regular jobs and responsibilities outside of the Department.
They serve for the love of their community, the profession, and for their firefighting family.
Not many other opportunities allow you to make such a positive impact on people.
What is the Physical Agility Test?
Williston Fire requires every prospective member to do a physical agility test prior to joining the Department.
These tests ensure members are capable of doing the tasks required of a Firefighter and/or EMT.
Examples include, but are not limited to, pulling hose lines, climbing ladders and carrying heavy objects.
These tests ensure members are capable of doing the tasks required of a Firefighter and/or EMT.
Examples include, but are not limited to, pulling hose lines, climbing ladders and carrying heavy objects.
Does the Williston Fire Department have equal requirements
for entry and training?
Yes. Medical and physical requirements follow OSHA and NFPA standards.
The Williston Fire Department is an equal opportunity employer.
The Williston Fire Department is an equal opportunity employer.
What is the Orientation Program?
When new firefighters join the Williston Fire Department, they go through an introductory 3-day course.
This orientation program follows a structured lesson plan and is taught by the call staff officers on weekend days.
It is designed to give members the basic skills they need to operate safely as a member of the Department.
After orientation is completed, Williston Fire prides itself on giving members access to high quality training,
both in house and out of house, so that members can continue to learn.
While there is a lot of material to cover, members often find the orientation to be enjoyable.
The orientation program includes many hands on drills, including
car accident scenarios where new members get to cut apart cars in a simulated rescue situation.
This orientation program follows a structured lesson plan and is taught by the call staff officers on weekend days.
It is designed to give members the basic skills they need to operate safely as a member of the Department.
After orientation is completed, Williston Fire prides itself on giving members access to high quality training,
both in house and out of house, so that members can continue to learn.
While there is a lot of material to cover, members often find the orientation to be enjoyable.
The orientation program includes many hands on drills, including
car accident scenarios where new members get to cut apart cars in a simulated rescue situation.
Is prior experience needed to join Williston Fire?
No, you do not need prior experience to join the Williston Fire Department.
During your first year, you will enroll in a State Firefighter Level One class.
In addition, our in-house training will make you a valuable asset to the Department
before you complete your Firefighter Level One class.
During your first year, you will enroll in a State Firefighter Level One class.
In addition, our in-house training will make you a valuable asset to the Department
before you complete your Firefighter Level One class.
What if I have prior experience?
Please send proof of your certifications, class records and/or grades, with your employment application
which will be reviewed by the Department's Training Officer.
If you meet our interior firefighting training requirements, it will speed up your orientation process
and allow you to respond to calls sooner.
which will be reviewed by the Department's Training Officer.
If you meet our interior firefighting training requirements, it will speed up your orientation process
and allow you to respond to calls sooner.
I am interested in responding to emergency medical calls.
Williston Fire currently has an active EMS component.
If you come to us without an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification,
we will work on getting you certified as a firefighter before transitioning to EMS.
If you come to us without an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification,
we will work on getting you certified as a firefighter before transitioning to EMS.
Are Williston on-call firefighters paid or compensated?
Yes. Members are on-call firefighters and receive an hourly wage for calls and training.
What equipment or uniform costs will I be expected to pay?
All uniforms, personal protective equipment, and any expenses associated with training are fully paid by the Williston Fire Department.
Must I live in Williston to be a firefighter?
We are currently looking for call firefighters that live within a reasonable response distance from our station.
This includes all of Williston and some areas outside Williston.
Reasonable responding distance is considered either living anywhere in town
or living within 10 minutes of the fire station
(determined by a Google Maps search done at low traffic hours of the day).
This includes all of Williston and some areas outside Williston.
Reasonable responding distance is considered either living anywhere in town
or living within 10 minutes of the fire station
(determined by a Google Maps search done at low traffic hours of the day).
How many emergencies must I respond to?
You are only expected to respond to 5% of emergency calls per month.
This is an average of 5-10 calls per month.
Typically, our on-call members willingly respond to about 20% of calls.
While we would like members to help with every call,
we understand that our members all have other commitments and responsibilities.
This is an average of 5-10 calls per month.
Typically, our on-call members willingly respond to about 20% of calls.
While we would like members to help with every call,
we understand that our members all have other commitments and responsibilities.
How do I respond to emergency calls?
Upon completion of initial training, new on-call firefighters are issued a small voice pager and upload an app to their phone.
When the 911 Center receives a call for Williston Fire Department, they broadcast it over our voice pagers and upload it to the app. When you hear/see the call come in, you decide if you are available to respond.
If you are at work, a special family event, or trying to get a good night’s sleep before a big day, you can simply ignore the call.
If you can respond, you will check in on the app, alerting the other firefighters that you are responding.
You would then drive to the fire station and board the next responding fire engine to the emergency.
Upon return to the station, you would help the others clean up the vehicles and equipment, and then everyone is released.
When the 911 Center receives a call for Williston Fire Department, they broadcast it over our voice pagers and upload it to the app. When you hear/see the call come in, you decide if you are available to respond.
If you are at work, a special family event, or trying to get a good night’s sleep before a big day, you can simply ignore the call.
If you can respond, you will check in on the app, alerting the other firefighters that you are responding.
You would then drive to the fire station and board the next responding fire engine to the emergency.
Upon return to the station, you would help the others clean up the vehicles and equipment, and then everyone is released.
What kind of training is involved?
Williston firefighters respond to a variety of calls including building fires, vehicle accidents,
carbon monoxide alarms, brush fires, rescues, and much more.
To prepare for this, all new firefighters go through an orientation training program taught by the Department Call Officers.
Williston Fire will also sponsor new members through the Firefighter Level One class hosted by the State Fire Academy.
carbon monoxide alarms, brush fires, rescues, and much more.
To prepare for this, all new firefighters go through an orientation training program taught by the Department Call Officers.
Williston Fire will also sponsor new members through the Firefighter Level One class hosted by the State Fire Academy.
I have more questions.
If you would like more information or to arrange for a station tour, please fill out the short form below.
To reach a Call Lieutenant please email:
Lieutenant George Shortsleeves (GShortsleeves@willistonfire.com)
or Lieutenant Matt Ammann (MAmmann@willistonfire.com).
Include in the subject line "Question about Call Staff Membership" followed by your name.
Include in your email the best way to contact you.
You can also call the fire station at 878-5622 to speak to the on duty crew.
Lieutenant George Shortsleeves (GShortsleeves@willistonfire.com)
or Lieutenant Matt Ammann (MAmmann@willistonfire.com).
Include in the subject line "Question about Call Staff Membership" followed by your name.
Include in your email the best way to contact you.
You can also call the fire station at 878-5622 to speak to the on duty crew.