Fire Department · Combination
Chehalis Fire Department
Chehalis, WA · Lewis County
Earn $6,649-$8,081/month with generous benefits including health insurance and a 4-platoon schedule. CPAT required for entry-level candidates.
Chehalis Fire Department seeks firefighters with a minimum salary of $6,044 monthly, requiring EMT certification and CPAT completion within 180 days. Apply continuously.
The Chehalis Fire Department serves the city of Chehalis in Lewis County, Washington — a community of roughly 7,500 residents whose daytime population swells to about 30,000. Organized as a volunteer company in 1890 and established by city ordinance in 1893, the department now answers approximately 2,200 emergency incidents a year from its headquarters at 500 NW Sitka Street. Its career roster, as listed in 2026 recruitment materials, comprises the fire chief, four captains, four firefighter/engineers, and five firefighter/paramedics.
Beyond fire suppression and 24-hour emergency medical response with ambulance transport, the department runs a fire prevention division that enforces the International Fire Code through inspection and permit programs, delivers fire-safety education in schools and to adults, and performs basic arson investigation. Its rope rescue team dates to 1996 and handles both high- and low-angle rescues; a swiftwater rescue team, founded in 2004, works closely with the Lewis County Sheriff's Office.
Chehalis firefighters are represented by IAFF Local 2510 — the department first unionized in 1938 — and work a four-platoon schedule of 24 hours on and 72 hours off. The frontline fleet includes three engines, a 100-foot aerial ladder, and an aid unit.
MissionThe Chehalis Fire Department provides effective fire and life safety services through emergency response, education, training and code enforcement, to assist the community in maintaining and improving quality of life.
Chehalis hires through Public Safety Testing, where candidates complete the written examination; recruitment for both the Firefighter/Paramedic and Firefighter/Engineer classifications runs on a continuous basis. Each classification is open to entry-level and lateral candidates, with starting wages set by qualifications and full-time experience.
The department is in a growth phase: its 2026 postings cite an urban growth area annexation and a new station opening, with four current vacancies and plans to hire at least six additional firefighters within the following 17 months.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid Washington State driver's license
- IFSAC Firefighter 1 certification
- Current Washington State paramedic certification with the ability to obtain Lewis County reciprocity (Firefighter/Paramedic)
- AHA ACLS and PALS certifications (Firefighter/Paramedic)
- Current Washington State EMT certification and at least 1 year of volunteer or paid firefighting experience (Firefighter/Engineer)
- U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency
- Lateral candidates: at least 1 year of full-time firefighter experience
Hiring process
- Apply and take the written examination through Public Safety Testing
- Complete the CPAT physical ability test
- Background investigation
- Medical and psychological evaluations
- Drug screening
Benefits
Per the department's 2026 recruitment postings:
- Health, dental, and vision coverage with an HSA package
- Washington LEOFF Plan 2 state retirement
- 8.66 holiday hours accrued per month
- 22 sick hours per month, to a maximum of 1,440 hours
- 8–16 vacation hours per month based on years of service, to a maximum of 544 hours
- Compensatory time accrual option
Does the Chehalis Fire Department require paramedic certification?
It depends on the classification. The Firefighter/Paramedic track requires a current Washington State paramedic certification plus ACLS and PALS. The Firefighter/Engineer track requires a current Washington State EMT certification along with at least one year of volunteer or paid firefighting experience.
Is the CPAT waived for lateral applicants to the Chehalis Fire Department?
Entry-level candidates must complete the CPAT within 180 days prior to their hire date. Lateral candidates with 24 or more months of recent full-time firefighting experience may have the CPAT requirement waived.
How is starting pay set for lateral hires at the Chehalis Fire Department?
Wage placement for both entry-level and lateral hires is based on qualifications and full-time experience within the published monthly range for each position. The 2026 postings also note a minimum 5 percent wage increase taking effect January 1, 2027.