Recruitement, Selection of New Members
Non-Discrimination
The Town of Barre and the Barre Town Fire Department does not and shall not discriminate against applicants or potential applicants on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, national origin or age. Climbing, crawling, lifting, manual manipulation, seeing and hearing are required for essential job functions.
Continual Application Process
Applications for membership in the Barre Town Fire Department will always be accepted at, and only at, the Town Manager's Office. Application for membership shall be made on the Town's and Departments forms, although applicants may also attach a copy of their resume. The continual application process does not prohibit the Department from advertising for additional members, when needed.
Full staffing of the Barre Town Fire Department is 45 members. The Department shall not be obligated to hire (admit) any of all applicant(s) whenever the number of current members plus applicants is 45 or less.
Application Response
Upon receipt of a complete application (incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant) the Chief will determine if the applicant meets the minimum qualifications. If the applicant does not possess the minimum qualifications stated below, a rejection and thank you notice will be sent to the applicant. If the applicant meets the minimum qualifications the application could be placed in the qualified application file for future selections or the Chief could advance the application through the selection process.
Minimum Qualifications
Residency - At the time of application applicants must be a resident of Barre Town or the area of the Town of Orange protected by the Barre Town Fire Department. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis as determined by the Chief with approval of the Town Manager. The Chief shall consider the distance from the applicant's home to a Barre Town fire station or the driving time from the applicant's home to a Barre Town fire station. Generally, the distance or driving time to a Barre Town fire station should be less than the distance or driving time from the applicant's home to his/her home fire station. The Chief shall also consider prior firefighting or fire department experience, education or training. In addition, the applicant shall state in writing to the Chief why he/she has no intention of joining his/her home town fire department. Revised 9/18/07
Age - The applicant must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
Education - The applicant must have earned a High School Diploma or GED.
Driver's License - The applicant must have a vaild driver's license at time of application. If the license was not issued by the State of Vermont, the applicant must obtain a Vermont driver's license before being selected to join the Department.
Additional Requirements
If an applicant meets the minimum qualifications he/she may be advanced through the selection process.
The selection process will include the following order:
- An Interview
- A Background Check
- A Physical Agility Assessment
- A Medical Exam
After each step a decision will be made if the applicant will progress through the selection process.
Applicants may be excluded from the Department if they have been convicted of crimes of: arson, any sex crimes, theft, lewd or lascivious conduct within the last 8 years, severe driving violations within the last 8 years, trafficking or possessing illegal substances within the last 8 years. Additionally, applicants will be excluded if arrested for any crime involving theft from an employer.
Firefighters must have the strength and agility to be able to lift, carry, pull and crawl. Applicants will be assessed in full turn out gear. Applicants will be required to complete the physical agility test. The test must be completed within 25 minutes.
Applicants must see the Town's designated medical professional for a pre-employment physical exam, or submit the written results from a recent comparable exam by another medical professional. The Town's medical professional will decide if the written exam report is adequate and if the results are satisfactory for employment in the Barre Town Fire Department. The physical exam will include but not be limited to: full physical capability, hearing, sight, back ailments, asthma, cardiovascular ailments, and previous injuries or conditions that inhibit the ability to perform the essential duties of a firefighter.