Smithfield recruiting new firefighters and EMTs

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The Smithfield Fire Department is recruiting new staff to fill some of their volunteer and part-time positions. Anyone interested in joining the department is asked to report to the fire station at 325 West 100 North, Thursday night May 5 at 6 p.m. for more details and testing.

Fire Battalion Chief Brian Potts oversees recruitment for the department, and said the test will evaluate recruit’s intellectual skills and fitness level.

“It’s a recruitment test where we have a general knowledge written test,” said Potts. “Then we have some physical activities, to make sure people can get up and down stairs, carry some equipment bags, and maybe carry a ladder or drag a fire hose, so we know they have some physical ability and are not limited in extenuating circumstances that they might find themselves in.”

People interested in becoming a firefighter should pick up and complete an application at Smithfield City Hall prior to the test day. Applicants must be over 18 and in good physical shape.

Potts said there is no experience necessary to apply for one of the 12 open positions in the department’s volunteer reserve.

“That is where we start people, to train them. They can come to us with no fire background or medical background. We provide EMT classes, basic fire fighter skill classes and get them certified as a volunteer. Then if they would like to move up to part-time work or work towards fulltime, they have those opportunities with us or other agencies that are around, if they are going into that career path.”

The Smithfield Fire Department serves Smithfield, Hyde Park, Amalga and Benson. The department requires its members to complete structural fire training, wildland fire training, and emergency medical training within 2 years of joining. The costs of that training is covered by the department. Members must also participate in weekly training meetings and be available for duty at least two nights each week and occasional weekends.

Interested participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for the physical skills test Thursday night.

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