Firefighter- Fire Apparatus Operator

Firefighter - Fire Apparatus Operator Washington County, MD, is hiring full-time Firefighter – Fire Apparatus Operators. Applicants will not need prior fire/EMS certifications or experience to apply. Washington County offers a full compensation package that reflects how much we value our employees.

Compensation during first year as a full-time employee:
Sixty (60) Paid Personal Hours
Ninety-Six (96) Paid Vacation Hours
Holiday pay for hours worked; paid at one and one half times the employee's regular rate.
One Hundred & Twenty (120) Paid Sick Hours
County and Employee funded Healthcare including Health, Prescription, Dental and Vision Coverage
County Paid Employee Assistance Plan
County Paid Life Insurance
County Paid Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
County Paid Short Term Disability Insurance
County Paid Long Term Disability Insurance
Up to $2,500 Annual Tuition Reimbursement Assistance
County and Employee funded Defined Pension Plan Vested in just five (5) years.
Credit for Prior Active Military Service and Unused Paid Sick Days.
An Hourly Salary of $23.79 per hour.
Overtime eligibility after 96 hours worked in a designated 14-day period.
$59,380 Annually, based on a 2496-hour annual work schedule.

Additional Annual Pay Incentives per Certifications Attained:
$2.00 per hour Maryland State Certified Advanced Life Support Provider Certification
$0.40 per hour Hazardous Material Technician Certification
$0.60 per hour Swift Water Technician Certification +Any Secondary Specialty Certification
$0.60 per hour Confined Space Technician Certification + Any Secondary Specialty Certification

All candidates must successfully complete and pass the Firefighter Physical Agility Test (PAT) to be considered for an interview. Mentoring and PAT testing dates will be provided later. A Firefighter Medical Clearance Form must be completed and signed by either a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner stating that the candidate is medically able to participate in the Firefighter PAT. The candidate will be provided with the Medical Clearance Form after a review of applications is completed by County staff. The candidate is to bring the completed and signed Medical Clearance Form the day of PAT mentoring/testing. Failure to bring the completed and signed Medical Clearance Form to your scheduled PAT mentoring/testing will result in the candidate being disqualified from the PAT mentoring and testing. Continued employment is conditional on the successful completion of the Washington County Fire/EMS Recruit Academy. Successful completion is defined as attaining a passing grade in each course as defined by the specific curriculum or the academy handbook. Applicants with prior firefighter/EMS experience must submit copies of each training/certification. PLEASE NOTE: only PDF copies will be accepted, no digital pictures or screenshots of certifications permitted.

JOB DUTIES: This is technician-level work in fire suppression, hazardous materials, rescue, and emergency medical care. The work performed affects the health and safety of individuals and the protection of property and the environment. Operations are in accordance with established policies and procedures, which must be adhered to, and require initiative and resourcefulness, analysis of problems and emergency situations and judgment in the selection of the appropriate course of action. The work requires periods of strenuous physical effort and involves exposure to heat, dirt, inclement weather, and other unpleasant conditions. An employee in this classification is regularly exposed to the risk of injury or disease, requiring the use of protective clothing and strict adherence to safety precautions.

Essential Tasks:
Responds to and participates in firefighting, technical rescue, auto extrication, hazardous materials incidents, medical emergencies, and other emergency operations.
Drives and operates emergency vehicles under emergency and non-emergency conditions.
Operates all types of fire apparatus to include, but not be limited to, ambulances, engines, engine/tankers, tankers, aerial devices, and rescue squads.
Performs fire suppression activities; including but not limited to, fire attack, vehicle and machinery extrication and victim rescue; and exposure protection, ventilation, overhaul and property preservation.
Performs prehospital emergency medical care at the basic life support level.
Performs inspections, preventative maintenance, and cleaning of vehicles and equipment to ensure operational readiness.
Executes comprehensive fire, rescue and/or emergency medical reports documenting emergency and non-emergency responses.
Assists with routine or scheduled housekeeping duties at fire and rescue station.
Assists with routine administrative tasks.
Participates in special projects as directed.
Through training sessions, exercises, publications, and other means; maintains a working knowledge of current technologies, equipment, certification requirements and other areas pertinent to the operation.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements: Age 19 minimum at hire; 1 year driving experience; High school graduate or GED; Valid Maryland Class C or higher driver's license; Firefighter I certification; Firefighter II certification; HazMat Operations certification; Common Passenger Vehicle Rescue certification; Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator certification; Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC); Emergency Medical Technician (Maryland EMT or National Registry); National Incident Management System (NIMS) 100, 200, 700, 703, 800; Knowledge of local, state, and national laws and standards; Proficiency in computer applications; Ability to analyze technical data and write reports; Ability to establish and maintain working relationships; Strong English communication and public speaking skills

Salary: $23.79 Hourly

Application Deadline: 2026-11-12