Contract Firefighter Jobs in Springfield, MA (NOW HIRING)

Position Type:
Firefighter/Paramedic
Date Posted:
3/17/2026
Location:
Fire Department
Date Available:
TBD
The Town of West Hartford
Announces an Open Competitive Examination
For the Position of
FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC - LATERAL TRANSFERS ONLY
APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ELECTRONICALLY
Application Deadline: Salary Range:
Open Continuously $70,746 - $95,394 per year (subject to increase upon contract ratification)
The West Hartford Fire Department is accepting applications for current Firefighter/Paramedics. Please read instructions carefully.
JOB PURPOSE
This is general duty fire prevention, fire protection, and firefighting work in combating, extinguishing and preventing fires, doing rescue work and providing emergency medical care in cases of emergency. Assist in the maintenance of equipment, stations, and apparatus. In addition to the general duties of Firefighter, as Paramedic, this position also provides patient care and treatment in medical emergencies under the direct or indirect supervision of a sponsor hospital physician, and in the event of life-threatening emergencies, on own initiative to the extent authorized by the Sponsor Hospital and Advanced Life Support protocols.
When not involved in providing emergency care, the Firefighter/Paramedic works under the general supervision of a company officer.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
All persons who meet all of the following minimum qualifications are encouraged to apply. The West Hartford Fire Department is an equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

• Age: At least eighteen (18) years of age.
• Education: Graduation from a standard high school or a recognized general education equivalency (GED).
• Current standing: Applicants must be in good standing in their current position; or if not actively working, must have left their most recent position in good standing

Required License/Certifications:

• Applicants must possess a valid Driver's License at the time of appointment.
• Applicants must have graduated from the CT Fire Academy Recruit Program or comparable recruit firefighter training program within five (5) years of the date of application; or currently working in a suppression role. Applicants must upload their certificate of Fire Academy completion to the application.
• Applicants must currently possess NREMT Paramedic or be a CT Licensed Paramedic. Applicants must upload their paramedic license to the application.
• All candidates must possess current ACLS, PALS, and BLS CPR certification at time of appointment.
• All candidates are required to provide evidence of physical ability by possessing a Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certification. CPAT certification must be obtained within one (1) year of the application date. The CPAT card must be uploaded to the application.

Evidence of certification is the candidate's responsibility and is obtained separately from the Town of West Hartford's recruitment process. A CPAT Card is considered valid for one (1) year after date of issue. The CPAT certification must be valid at time of appointment.
A Firefighter-Paramedic hired and assigned to work as a Firefighter-Paramedic shall remain a licensed Paramedic with Town of West Hartford Sponsor Hospital medical control and maintain the requisite credentials as a condition of employment for a minimum period of at least ten (10) ten years following appointment unless reassigned by the Fire Chief or designee. Licensure as a Paramedic with authorization to practice at the EMT level or converting Paramedic licensure to an EMT-B certification must be maintained for the remainder of career as a condition of employment.

• Physical Examination and Psychological Examination: Both a physical exam and psychological exam will be required. Candidates must be able to meet and maintain the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Standards for Respiratory Protection (29 CFR 1910.134) as amended and successfully complete a medical evaluation as outlined in NFPA 1582. Psychological exam must be passed according to department standards.
• Drug Testing: Candidates shall be required to submit to a drug test as part of the pre-employment medical examination. Applicants must complete the Drug Testing Supplement to the Employment Application. Failure to do so will automatically disqualify your application for the position.
• Non-Smoking Requirement: Due to the physical demands of this position, the Town of West Hartford requires that all qualified candidates certify that they are non-smokers. Applicants must complete the Non-Smoking Statement. Failure to do so will automatically disqualify your application for the position. Candidates will be required to attest to this fact prior to being certified for eligibility.
• Character Requirement: Candidates must meet the highest legal and ethical standards. No applicant will be accepted with any drug related conviction, felony conviction, conviction for any Class A or Class B misdemeanor or any conviction for domestic violence. Candidates will undergo a rigorous background investigation, before a final offer of employment. An applicant may be disqualified for reason such as but not limited to, poor employment history, recent use of illegal drugs, or previously undetected criminal activity. Any omission, falsification, fabrication, lie or misleading statement will automatically result in disqualification from further consideration with Town of West Hartford.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preferred Qualifications are not required to apply however, possessing a specific preferred qualification, or any combination thereof may be utilized to determine more highly qualified candidates for interview and selection. Preferred qualifications include, but are not limited to:

• Valid paramedic medical control from a Connecticut hospital

WORK ENVIRONMENT
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach and stretch with hands and arms with a full range of motion. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, jump, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk and taste or smell.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 175 pounds. Wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus is required and each employee must be able to pass a fit for seal test.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts, in high precarious places and confined spaces. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electric shock and vibration. The employee is often exposed to excessively high temperature intensities and sudden temperature changes.
The noise level in the working environment is usually moderate, except during certain firefighting or EMT activities when noise levels may be loud. The employee may be required to work rotating shifts, and is considered essential emergency personnel. Any personnel in this position are required to work during emergency situations and are subject to be recalled to work at any time. Remains on stand-by time for all fires and emergencies except on days off and vacation.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
As Firefighter:

• Responds to alarms and assists in the suppression of fires, including rescue, advancing lines, entry, ventilating and salvage work, extrication and emergency medical care of victims.
• Utilizes firefighting and rescue equipment as directed to combat fire or to control the emergency including, but not limited to, connecting hose to hydrants, laying hose, erecting ladders, going into buildings with hose, ladders, or additional firefighting or rescue equipment as the situation demands.
• Searches burning buildings to locate fire victims.
• Performs emergency medical care as an Emergency Medical Technician according to National Scope of Practice at the Basic Life Support level. This may include operation of EMS vehicles, treatment and/or transport and documentation.
• Performs cleanup, salvage and overhaul work in order to save and protect property from unnecessary damage.
• Performs fire prevention and inspections of business establishments and prepares pre-fire plans.
• Performs general maintenance work at the fire station to include cleaning rooms, lavatories, and the physical plant and taking care of grounds surrounding the station and performing minor repairs of equipment, property and facilities.
• Inspects and cleans all firefighting equipment and rescue equipment assuring readiness for immediate use. Reports need for repair or replacement of firefighting and rescue equipment to superior.
• Wears appropriate personal protective equipment, such as, but not limited to, fire resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
• Moves toward the source of a fire using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
• Positions and climbs ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings or to rescue individuals from burning structures.
• Takes action to contain hazardous chemicals that might catch fire, leak, or spill.
• Assesses fires and situations and reports conditions to superiors to receive instructions using two-way radios.
• Performs fire prevention/public education duties including fire station tours, demonstrations, and preplans.
• Attends and participates in training courses and in-service drills/training sessions as directed.
• Performs all incident related duties in conjunction with the Department's adopted incident command system.
• Assists in identifying solutions to improve fire department operations as directed.
• Keeps posted on road conditions, routes to fires and hydrant locations.
• Takes desk watch daily, relays calls and alarms that come in from central dispatch.
• Inspects hydrants, removes snow and maintains grounds near hydrants, but excludes the repair and flushing of hydrants.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

As Paramedic (Firefighter job functions, plus):

• Administers primary pre-hospital emergency medical care to the sick and injured according to established medical protocols and appropriate as a Licensed Paramedic, as assigned. Performs triage and a variety of emergency medical treatment at the Basic and Advanced Life Support level. This may include operation of EMS vehicles, treatment and/or transport and documentation. Under medical direction and following prescribed standing orders performs a variety of invasive and non-invasive therapies including, but not limited to assessment and evaluation of the ill and injured, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation, administration of drugs, agents and solutions, intubation and pulmonary ventilation, drawing of blood samples for analysis, application of dressing and bandages, control of shock, and immobilization of fractures.
• Responsible for the possession, accountability and tracking of controlled substances.
• Responsible to the EMS Officer for matters relating to patient care and quality assurance.
• Handles radio or other communication with the Emergency Room Physician.
• Provides continuing care and treatment while on route to an emergency medical facility. Monitors and reports changes in patient condition.
• Employs safe lifting and moving techniques.
• Cleans and maintains equipment and replaces supplies.
• Successfully completes continuing education and professional development requirements to maintain medical control in good standing and professional licensure.
• May supervise other rescue personnel at medical emergencies pertaining to patient care.
• May act as a preceptor for new Paramedics.
• Prepares and maintains accurate and complete patient care reports (PCR), records, statistics and logs on daily activities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of basic firefighting principles and techniques, pumps and hydraulics and aerial/platform operations.
• Knowledge of safety rules and regulations, fire apparatus and equipment and operations.
• Knowledge of emergency care methods, techniques and equipment.
• Working knowledge of the street system and physical layout of the Town of West Hartford including hydrant locations, water sources, buildings, etc.
• Knowledge of building construction and related state and local building codes, including heating and electrical installation to be used in connection with work done on fire prevention inspection.
• Agility with sufficient physical strength and freedom from disabling conditions to perform firefighting duties under adverse and hazardous conditions.
• Ability to think and react quickly and effectively in emergency situations.
• Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to perform mechanical work.
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with fellow employees and the public.
• Ability to perform medical procedures associated with the EMS National Scope of Practice levels as applicable.
• Ability to maintain department issued personal protective clothing and equipment.
• Ability to work in a hazardous environment while continually wearing protective pressure self-contained breathing apparatus.
• Ability to operate a full range o