Firefighting Careers

Minimum Requirements:

High school diploma or equivalent

Must be 18 years old at time of hire

Must possess IFSAC Firefighter I, Firefighter II and NR-EMT certification or be willing to obtain with one year.

Valid driver's license

Benefits:

Starting pay no certification $47,000.00 includes holidays

FFII or NREMT starting pay $48,500.00 includes holidays

FFII and NREMT starting pay $50,000.00 includes holidays

12 paid holidays

Step Pay Scale

Off-duty call back paid at overtime rate

No residency requirement

Paid Health/Dental/and Life Insurance (employee) 

Family Health/Dental and Life Insurance available to family

Accrued paid sick and vacation time

Physical Fitness Bonus up to $1000 per year

Paid training

48/96 shift schedule

LOPFI pension

Free employee assistance program (EAP)

Free access to in-house fitness center

Discounted rate for use of the city indoor aquatics center

Uniforms provided

2 sets of structural gear provided

Step by Step Process:

Step 1- complete an employment application online located at the bottom of this page or visit Paragould City Hall Human Resources Department located at 301 W. Court St. to obtain a paper application. Please upload or submit all certifications relevant to the position you are applying for such as certifications, seminars, training courses, and licenses held.

Online employment application at bottom of page.

Step 2- after the Human Resources Department reviews applications for minimum requirements they will release a list of candidates to the Paragould Fire Department. Candidates will be notified of the physical assessment test date, time and location. In a typical year one testing is conducted. However, this is subject to change based on number of qualified candidates available for employment, and available positions to be filled. The candidate must provide at time of physical assessment a Medical Release Form signed by a physician when they arrive at the testing center. Click here for medical release waiver. Under no circumstances will a candidate be allowed to participate in the physical assessment without providing this form. The form can be obtained from Paragould City Hall Human Resources department located at 301 W. Court St. or online click here. The physical assessment is a timed course with a 5 minute cap for completion. For a description of the course you will be required to participate in please click here. The candidate must pass the physical assessment to move to Step 3. Upon successful completion of the physical assessment a date, time and location will be provided to the candidate for the written test.

Step 3- candidates will be required to take a written test, The National Firefighter Selection Test (NFST). A study guide for the written test is available for purchase at Paragould City Hall Human Resources Department located 301 W. Court St. Remember to move to step 4 you must successfully complete the written test. Upon successful completion of the written test an oral interview will be scheduled based on overall testing rank.

Step 4- candidate must participate in a formal interview with the Paragould Fire Department Captains from each each platoon and the Administrative Captain.

Step 5- What to expect moving forward: the successful completion of Steps 1-4 will result in the candidate being available for employment. A list will be compiled of all candidates and their ranking. As positions become available successful candidates will be notified via phone to extend offers. This is not an official hiring. At this point the candidate will be required to pass a background check, reference check and submit to a medical assessment and drug screening. All processes will be completed before officially being hired.

Click link for printable employment application /DocumentCenter/View/359

Click link for physical agility waiver form. This must be filled out by a physician and brought with you on day of testing. /DocumentCenter/View/1562