The text
Footnotes:
--- (5) --- Charter reference— Fire department, art. 8, ch. 3.
Cross reference— Officers and employees, § 2-201 et seq.
State Law reference— Firefighters, G.L. 1956, § 45-18-1 et seq.
Sec. 26-76. - Qualifications for appointment to the fire department.#
(a)
A candidate for initial appointment to the fire department, excluding the fire chief, must meet the following minimum qualifications:
(1)
Must be a citizen of the United States;
(2)
Must possess a four-year high school diploma or an equivalent general education diploma (GED);
(3)
Must be between the ages of 18 and 35 at time of hire;
(4)
Vision must be not less than 20/30 correctable to 20/20 and must be able to distinguish colors;
(5)
Must have a valid unrestricted motor vehicle operator's license upon appointment;
(6)
Must have obtained a valid entry level firefighter written exam score through the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs (RIAFC);
(7)
Must have an updated valid physical performance assessment (PPA) test certificate as recognized and/or administered by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs (RIAFC);
(8)
Must possess and present at minimum a Rhode Island Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license or be currently enrolled in an approved RIDOH EMT course.
(b)
Candidates who meet the above minimum qualifications must successfully complete and agree to the following requirements prior to official appointment as a firefighter:
(1)
Medical tests. Applicant must undergo and pass medical/psychological testing. Applicant will be rejected for any medical, physical or psychological condition which impairs their ability to perform the duties of the position in a reasonable manner, or which may reasonably be expected to render them unfit to continue to perform those duties in a reasonable manner. Applicants will also be required to pass any additional physical performance assessment tests the town may require.
(2)
Written test. All applicants must pass a written examination designed for an entry level firefighter position. Minimum passing score is 70 percent (weight will be 65 percent of total score).
(3)
Interviewing oral board. A minimum of the top 15 successful candidates who have passed the written examination, medical screenings and any additional performance assessment tests required by the town shall be subjected to a three-person interviewing oral board. (Weight will be 35 percent of total score.) Nothing contained in this shall prohibit the town from including more than 15 candidates to the oral board.
(4)
Character and background. Applicant must submit a full bureau of criminal investigation (BCI) report. Proof of good character and satisfactory background will be an absolute prerequisite to appointment. Candidates will be required to submit appropriate waivers of any confidential information so that investigating officers can conduct a full and complete background investigation.
(5)
Post-conditional employment offer. Candidates must agree to the terms and conditions of a recruit letter of understanding.
(Code 1986, § 6-61; Ch. 786, § 1, 8-2-1999; Ord. No. 1004, § 1, 10-20-2014; Ch. 1139, § 1, 9-15-2025)
Secs. 26-77, 26-78. - Reserved.#
Editor's note— Ord. No. 1004, § 1, adopted Oct. 20, 2014, repealed §§ 26-77 and 26-78, which pertained to application process and interviews by oral board, and derived from Code 1986, §§ 6-62, 6-63; Ch. 786, § 2, 8-2-1999. For current provisions, see § 26-76.
Sec. 26-79. - Ranking and list of eligible candidates.#
An eligibility list of successful candidates will be established according to the following: (1)
Written examination— 65 percent
(2)
Interviewing oral board—35 percent
(3)
Additional earned credits (20 points maximum)
a.
Resident of town (minimum of two years)—two points
b.
Previous volunteer experience as a firefighter and/or EMT (minimum two years along with a letter of good standing from an active fire chief and/or director)—two points
c.
Active military or veteran (minimum of two consecutive years of honorable active duty)—two points
d.
Licensed Rhode Island Advanced EMT-Cardiac level or higher (current and valid)—two points
e.
Minimum 60 credit hours—College/university level courses—two points
f.
Actively employed as a full-time paid professional firefighter in good standing and possess Rhode Island Pro-Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Firefighter 1001 levels 1 and 2 certifications - 10 points
(4)
Medical/psychological screening—Pass/fail
(5)
Drug testing—Pass/fail
(6)
Character and background investigation—Pass/fail
(7)
Personal interview by chief of fire department, executive officer, and director of public safety—Pass/fail
A candidate has the right to appeal on any part of the testing procedure to the chief of the department and the public safety director. Their decision will be final.
(Code 1986, § 6-64; Ch. 862, § 1, 7-5-2005; Ch. 971, § 1, 10-15-2012; Ord. No. 1004, § 1, 10-20-2014; Ch. 1139, § 1, 9-15-2025)
Sec. 26-80. - Appointments from list of eligible candidates.#
The fire chief, with the approval of the director of public safety, will select whom to appoint from the top five candidates and will be subject to the hiring practices as set forth by the town charter and ordinances of the town. Each eligibility list shall remain in effect for a minimum of one year or until such time the list has been exhausted or at the discretion of the town.
(Code 1986, § 6-65; Ord. No. 1004, § 1, 10-20-2014; Ch. 1139, § 1, 9-15-2025)