Lateral Firefighter Jobs in Washington
36 lateral postings open at 22 departments in Washington.
These are openings departments have marked for experienced, certified firefighters transferring from another agency.
FireJobs lists a posting here when the department calls it lateral in the title or the job description. Members see the salary, the closing date and the direct application link on every one.
Departments hiring laterals in Washington
- Aberdeen Fire Department · Aberdeen, WA · 4 lateral openings
- City of Pullman Fire Department · Pullman, WA · 3 lateral openings
- Lewis City Fire District #6 · Chehalis, WA · 3 lateral openings
- City of Hoquiam Fire Department · Hoquiam, WA · 2 lateral openings
- City of Montesano Fire Department · Montesano, WA · 2 lateral openings
- City of Walla Walla Fire Department · Walla Walla, WA · 2 lateral openings
- Clallam County Fire District #3 · Sequim, WA · 2 lateral openings
- Clark County Fire & Rescue · Ridgefield, WA · 2 lateral openings
- Grant County Fire Protection District #5 · Moses Lake, WA · 2 lateral openings
- Moses Lake Fire Department · Moses Lake, WA · 2 lateral openings
- Chehalis Fire Department · Chehalis, WA · 1 lateral opening
- City of DuPont Fire Department · DuPont, WA · 1 lateral opening
- Kitsap County Fire District #12 · Bremerton, WA · 1 lateral opening
- Kittitas County Fire Protection District #2 · Ellensburg, WA · 1 lateral opening
- Longview Fire Department Station 81 · Longview, WA · 1 lateral opening
- Marysville Fire District · Marysville, WA · 1 lateral opening
- Ocean Shores Fire Department · Ocean Shores, WA · 1 lateral opening
- Pierce County Fire Protection District #16 · Lakebay, WA · 1 lateral opening
- Richland Fire & Emergency Services · Richland, WA · 1 lateral opening
- S.E. Thurston Fire Authority · Yelm, WA · 1 lateral opening
- Spokane County Fire District 8 · Valleyford, WA · 1 lateral opening
- Yakima County Fire Protection District #4 · Yakima, WA · 1 lateral opening
Lateral hiring, explained
- What is a lateral firefighter job?
- A lateral position is an opening a department reserves for firefighters already certified and working at another department. Most lateral postings ask for Firefighter I or II certification, an EMT or paramedic license, and one to three years of full-time experience. Laterals usually skip the full recruit academy for a shorter orientation and often start above the entry pay step.
- How many lateral firefighter jobs are open in Washington?
- 36 lateral postings are open right now across 22 Washington fire departments on FireJobs. Members see the salary, closing date and application link for each.
- Do lateral firefighters have to go through the academy again?
- Usually not the full academy. Most departments run a shorter lateral academy or orientation covering their own procedures, equipment and district, then a probation period. Each posting states its own requirements; read it before applying.
- Does lateral experience count toward pay?
- Often yes. Many departments place laterals at a pay step that reflects their years of service rather than at the entry step, and some credit prior service toward vacation accrual. The posting or the department's pay schedule is the source for the exact figure.