Resources for Current and Future Candidates

Fire Prep Program

Program Overview

The Fire Prep program is intended to prepare job seekers and Seattle Fire Department (SFD) applicants for a career in the fire service. Through participation in Fire Prep, job seekers and SFD applicants should obtain a realistic understanding of the physical requirements of SFD Recruit School and gain the opportunity to develop their basic firefighter skills and knowledge. Participants will also receive online resources on strength and conditioning and firefighter-related content. These resources are ideal for those who want to prepare for SFD Recruit School.

Fire Prep is a nine-week program that focuses on adult learners with limited available time. The program begins with an Orientation Day (week 1) and is followed by eight consecutive in-person sessions. Orientation Day consists of a fitness assessment that provides participants with tangible results to identify specific fitness areas that may need improvement. All in-person sessions will be held on Saturdays at the Joint Training Facility (JTF). All participants must attend orientation day to participate in this program. Participants who do not attend orientation day will have the option to complete this program online only.

Disclaimer: Participation in this program does not guarantee placement in Recruit School, but it is designed for those interested in the fire service to have a better understanding of the nature of work, physical requirements and skill sets of a firefighter.

Attendance

• This is a voluntary program; therefore, attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly encouraged to get the most out of the material taught and to maximize your potential for success in SFD Recruit School.
• Attendance clause: Participants who are attending in-person will be automatically transitioned to the online only program if they (a) miss more than two sessions prior to week 5 and/or (b) do not prioritize safety prodecures.
• The curriculum for in-person training will build off of material covered in the previous weeks. You will fall behind if you routinely miss these sessions. Experienced Seattle firefighters will instruct the live sessions and guide each participant's development. Time to re-teach past material is not available.
• Online content will be administered on a weekly basis to supplement the in-person learning.
• For questions or more information, please review the FAQ section below or email fireprep@seattle.gov.

Who is Eligible to Participate?

Those on the current hiring register, any resident or non-resident of the City of Seattle and any job seeker who is interested in a career in the fire service.

Online Content

Strength & Conditioning: All participants will have access to a strength training program and be assigned to a fitness coach to help guide the development of their physical fitness. This portion of the program is not mandatory but is a free resource that should be taken advantage of. If participants have their own training program, they are still eligible to use their assigned fitness coach as a guide to modify their training routine or to provide feedback on lifting techniques.

Teambuildr: The Fire Prep program uses the Teambuildr mobile app to administer strength training plans. Visit the Teambuildr website here.

Firefighter-Related Content: Each week participants will receive an email containing assigned readings from the Basic Skills Manual (BSM), as well as a PDF document or a video demonstration of a firefighter-related skill or health and performance concept. These documents/resources should be reviewed to improve the participant's understanding of foundational concepts.

Testimonies from Past Fire Prep Participants

"You may think you're ready for drill school but once you've attended Fire Prep, it's a whole different story."

"Essential to prepare recruits for SFD recruit school and a great experience to meet your future fellow recruits."

"This is a great opportunity to learn some skills firefighters need to know and have expectations on what it's like to be a firefighter. The program can feel tough and intense at times, but the instructors are really great, and are there to help you succeed."

"SFD Fire Prep is not only essential for learning basic firefighter skills, but it gives you a chance to talk to Seattle Firefighters about what to expect from recruit school."

"Hands down, the SFD Fire Prep was a great experience. If you're considering joining Seattle Fire, the Prep program is a fantastic way to learn more about what it takes to become a Seattle Firefighter. It's a challenging program with high expectations, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

"I am so grateful for the experience. I came in after working out on my own, realizing I was not where I needed to be yet. I was taught the importance of a structured work out plan and proper lifting mechanics. It is still a process, but I now feel I am on my way in the right path."

"I really think this program was a big wakeup call for me and showed me just how demanding academy will be. I learned some really great skills I can take forward with me and it gave me a good list of things to work on personally before I get into the academy. As someone who has no experience in the fire service, I believe this program is extremely beneficial just to get muscle memory for things I have never tried or used before. I think this will make the mental part of academy a little bit more manageable too."

"Great experience and training. Although I was in skills group, I have benefited from the workouts. Seeing the facilities and getting hands in with equipment was very beneficial. Networking with other recruits was also beneficial."

"Fire Prep itself was all the information I would want before I started the academy. I appreciate the intensity of the firefighters and when we did mess up, the intensity turned off. I felt that it kept me engaged and helped me learn effectively. The information about hydration, recovery, and all the workouts are really valuable. I especially liked the email that was sent out about meals to make. Step by step guide on how to make the meals."

FAQs

Q: Will participating in the Fire Prep program be a factor in the hiring process?

A: No. Participation in the Fire Prep program is optional and will not affect you during the hiring process, though it may better prepare you for Recruit School. However, SFD Human Resources will be notified of participants who do not return SFD-owned gear by the deadline (approximately one month after the program ends).

Q: Do I have to attend orientation day? Can I start the program on a later date? Can I start the program online and move to the in-person group (or vice versa) at any time during the program?

A: You must attend orientation day as this day will help determine your placement in the program. Participants will not be allowed to join the Fire Prep program after orientation day.

Participants on the "online only" path cannot transfer over to the in-person group. These individuals will remain online throughout the entire duration of the program.

Participants in the in-person group will be transfered to the online only group for the following reasons: (1) if the participant requests this option, (2) if the participant scores poorly on the fitness assessment, (3) if the participant is no longer able to attend in-person sessions, or (4) if the participant missed more than 2 sessions before Week 5 of the program (not including orientation day).

Q: What happens if I miss one day due to prior commitments?

A: Missing 1-2 sessions due to prior commitments will be permitted. However, if you know that you will miss more than two sessions before registering for this program, we recommend enrolling in the online only program. The information on this website is being made available so that participants may plan and prioritize attendance of the next Fire Prep program.

Q: I want to join the program, but I am not in the area. Could I participate virtually?

A: Yes. When registration opens, send an email to fireprep@seattle.gov; please do not register via Eventbrite, as this will take up an in-person spot. Keep in mind that the resources you would have access to is the content that supplements in-person learning. You will also have access to a fitness coach/firefighter to help guide your strength training routine and provide mentorship on preparing for a career within the fire service.

Program Schedule

The following information will be updated throughout the year. Please check this segment regularly for updates. Last update: 7/11/2023

Fall 2023 - Fire Prep Program Registration: August 17 - August 31, 2023

• Registration details will be emailed on August 17, 2023.
• If you're interested in this program, email fireprep@seattle.gov to be added to our mailing list.
• When registration opens, be sure to complete the process as soon as possible. This is a popular program, and registration will fill up quickly.

Fall 2023 - Orientation Day Details

• Participants must sign and return a waiver to participate (will be provided via email after registration via Eventbrite)
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023
• Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Location: 9401 Myers Way S, Seattle, WA 98108 (Joint Training Facility)
• Wear fitness clothes, bring a water bottle, a towel, sunscreen, snacks and/or a lunch

Fall 2023 - Fitness Assessment

A physical fitness assessment will take place on orientation day. This assessment will allow participants to measure specific qualities of fitness and identify areas that need improvement. This assessment will measure (1) movement quality, (2) core strength, (3) lower body strength) and (4) aerobic capacity. The assessment consists of the following events:

• Movement screen: overhead squat
• Movement screen: shoulder mobility
• Core: timed side plank
• Lower body strength: 5-repetition maximum (5-RM) deadlift
• Aerobic capacity: yo-yo intermittent recovery test (Level 1)
• Firefighter tasks: 35' ladder extension (three attempts) and tower climb w/2.5" hose bundle

A debrief will take place after all events are completed. This debrief will highlight important benchmarks and physical fitness considerations for each event.

Participants who perform poorly with these events will be asked to complete the Fire Prep program online only. In this case, it would be best for that individual to prioritize the Health and Human Performance resources that this program has to offer (i.e. strength training program).

Fall 2023 - Program Calendar

Hiring Events in King County

Upcoming hiring events in the King County area will be posted here.

Other Resources

Applicant Handout

You are encouraged to review the handout created by the Fire Exams unit: Firefighter Applicant Workshop Handout

Recruit Study Resources

The primary text used in recruit school is the IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 7th Edition. This text is used nationally for Firefighter I & II certification.

The Basic Skills Manual published in-house by our Training Division. This material covers equipment and some manipulative skills used in the Seattle Fire Department: SFD Basic Skills Manual

See sample skill sheets utilized in SFD Recruit Training below. Note: skill sheets and drills are updated regularly. These are provided for familiarization only.

• Horizontal Ventilation
• Ladder Combo
• Pitched Roof Sawyer
• Power Equipment
• SCBA Sling
• Turning Out
• 2.5 Up and In
• Accordion Forward Position #3
• Extended Attack SFR Position #3
• V-Split Position #4

You are also encouraged to view and download the following materials from the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF): First Responder Operations Participant Guide

Additional resource materials are available through the International Fire Service Training Association: IFSTA Website

Questions

For questions about the Fire Prep program, please email fireprep@seattle.gov. For questions about the hiring process, please email SFD.Recruitment@seattle.gov.