Firefighter Employment

• Competitive salary package
• 20-year retirement plan,
• Full health insurance plan covering prescription drugs and major medical, eye, and dental care,
• Overtime compensation,
• Personal leave days,
• Paid holidays,
• Paid vacation

After four years of service, firefighters are eligible to compete in the promotional process.

Step One

• Apply for and take the Civil Service Entrance Exam. Passing the exam is not enough, you must score high enough (typically in the 100 to 90 percentage range) to be considered.
• A Physical Agility Test is given to the top candidates on the Civil Service List.
• An Eligibility List is prepared with those candidates who have successfully completed the Physically Agility Test.

Step Two
Once positions open within the Department the second step of the selection process begins:

• Canvass letters are sent to the top candidates on the Eligibility List.
• An Employment Application and Background Questionnaire are completed by those candidates responding to the Canvass Letter.
• A review of completed Background Questionnaires is completed and a full Background Investigation begins on successful candidates. The Background Investigation includes the following:
  • Criminal History Check
  • Credit Check
  • Reference Check
  • Employment Verification
• Once the Background Investigation has been completed and reviewed, successful candidates are interviewed by the Fire Chief.
• Upon successful completion of the interview process, Successful candidates will be required to submit to a full physical and psychological examination.
• Once the medical and psychological exams have been successfully completed, the candidates will be sworn in as recruit firefighters pending successful completion of state approved fire academy.

Newly hired firefighters must successfully complete a minimum of 229 hours of basic training, 114 hours of code enforcement entry level training, 103 hours of Emergency Medical Technician training and 40 hours of hazardous materials technician training.

• A high school diploma or GED
• 21 years old at the time of the exam
• Chemung County resident
• licensed driver with good driving record,
• good physical condition,
• no felony convictions.

Interested applicants should check with the Chemung County/City of Elmira Regional Civil Service Commission for the examination date and the last date to file to take the examination.

Applications for the exams may be obtained from the Regional Civil Service Commission located at 203 Lake Street, Elmira NY 14901.
Exam listings from the Civil Service Commission
Employment Application