The Red Wing Fire Department is seeking more paid on-call firefighters to join its ranks.
The fire department has a combination of career firefighters and on-call firefighters. The department currently has 29 on-call firefighters.
Some on-call firefighters stay for 30 or 40 years and some stay for a decade, Fire Chief Mike Warner said. The on-call position can progress to becoming a full-time career firefighter or they can stay as an on-call firefighter for their entire tenure, he said.
“It’s a really rewarding career. I absolutely love being a firefighter. I love being able to help the community that we’re a part of and it’s a great place to work for the city of Red Wing,” Warner said.
For people who want to learn more, the fire department is planning an introduction to firefighting during the department’s live fire training at 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, May 11 at its Station 2 training tower at 4880 Moundview Drive. Attendance isn’t required to apply for the position.
Applications to be a paid on-call firefighter are due by Monday, May 20. To qualify, on-call firefighters must live and respond to calls within a 20-minute response time from Station 1 at 420 Plum St.; have a high school diploma or equivalent; and must possess a valid driver’s license issued in the state of residence.
No experience is necessary to become an on-call firefighter. The fire department will send those hired to the fire academy to earn their state firefighter certification. The fire academy is one day a week from January through August and participants will learn all of the basic skills needed to become a firefighter. The academy includes classroom learning and hands-on skills activities with live fire. Once the fire academy is complete and they pass the test, the person is considered a paid on-call firefighter who can respond to calls, Warner said.
The application process to become an on-call firefighter includes an in-person interview, a psychological, medical and background check and a physical agility test, Warner said.
For more information and to apply, visit red-wing.org.
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