Job Description

The Ottawa Fire Department is recruiting for a Firefighter/EMT. The duties of the Firefighter/EMT include protection of life and property by combating, extinguishing, and preventing fires, as well as providing EMS care where needed. Work is performed under the direct supervision of the supervising officer but requires thorough individual understanding of firefighting methods and EMT duties.

Essential Job Functions: 
• Receive and respond quickly to all calls for service.
• Extinguish fires and respond to hazardous material emergencies.
• Remove persons from danger and provide appropriate medical care, complying with established medical protocols.
• Operate hose lines, fire extinguishers, hand tools, and other equipment as necessary to fight fires, affect rescue, and provide emergency medical care.
• Perform maintenance on department buildings, apparatus, and tools to ensure cleanliness and proper working order.
• Perform technical and specialty work in arson investigation, public education, building inspections, and related functions as time and training permits.
• Participate in formal and phase-intensive training and instruction sessions in firefighting methods, basic life support, and other Fire Department activities.

How to Apply: Complete On-Line Application at ottawaks.gov. Applicants must thoroughly complete the job application detailing job history.  Please do not put see attached resume in application. 

Date Opened: May 17, 2026

Date Closed: June 16, 2026

Hours:                   24 Hour Shifts; 212 hours every 28 days/2756 hours per year.

Pay Range: EMT-B- $19.52 to $27.34- Annual Compensation based on 2756 hours $53,797.12 to $75,349.04

City Staff will contact applicants regarding the next steps of the recruitment process: written exam,  panel interview,  physical agility test and Chief’s interview.

Every applicant MUST HAVE A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE, PROOF OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA/GED or TRANSCRIPTS, PROOF OF CURRENT KANSAS or NATIONAL EMT CERTIFICATION and FF I (IFSAC) or PROBOARD CERTIFICATION 

MUST ATTACH PROOF OF CURRENT KANSAS EMT CERTIFICATION, FF, IFSAC, or PROBOARD CERTIFICATES TO APPLICATION FOR CONSIDERATION.

No exceptions will be made.

Automatic Disqualifiers:

• Applicants who fail the written entrance examination can re-apply during the next recruitment process; however, applicants who fail the written entrance examination a total of two (2) times consecutively are not eligible to re-apply for a period of two (2) years from the date of the last examination attempt.
• Applicants that are successful in the panel interview will proceed to a Chief’s interview.  If the applicant is not selected for hire, that applicant is not eligible for a Firefighter/EMT position with the City of Ottawa for a period of two (2) years from the date of the Chief’s interview.
• Applicants selected for the one (1) year eligibility list will be contacted if a position opens within that one-year time frame.  If an applicant is interested in a position at that time, they will be asked to come in for another Chief’s interview.  If the applicant is not successful after the Chief’s interview, that applicant will not be eligible for a Firefighter/EMT position for two (2) years from the date of the last Chief’s interview.

Residency Requirements : Regular part-time and regular full-time employees shall, within one year of date of hire, establish and maintain residency within a driving distance of 35 miles of the Ottawa City Hall, and within the state of Kansas.

Education and Experience: 

FF/EMT-B

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• EMT-B certification.
• Firefighter 1 certification.
• Some prior firefighting and/or emergency services experience preferred.

Physical Abilities: (Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions)
• Must meet the requirements of the City’s physical examination for firefighters.
• Must be able to pass the bi-annually required physical agility tests administered by the department.
• Must be able to talk, hear, feel attributes of objects, grasp, push, stand, walk, drive, reach with hands/arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, balance, and operate mechanical equipment.
• Must be able to have repetitive wrist/hand/finger movement and manual dexterity.
• Must have precise hand-eye coordination, clarity of vision, three-dimensional vision, and ability to identify/distinguish colors.
• Must be able to lift 100 or more pounds.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.

Anyone with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation related to a selection process is requested to contact the Human Resources Department at 785-229-3634 at least two days prior to the scheduled test or interview.

The City of Ottawa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Job Tags

Full time, Part time, Shift work

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