HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Fire Department said earlier this week that the deadline to apply for its next firefighter class is Friday. The class will start September 6.
HFD protects 50,000 residents and covers 108 square miles encompassing the City of Hutchinson and suburban and rural Reno County Fire District #2.
HFD has 89 uniformed members and 1 civilian employee and operates 6 engine companies, 2 truck companies, and Crossman 10 brush trucks, 2 water tenders, 2 reserve engines, and a heavy rescue trailer from 6 strategically located fire stations.
New firefighter recruits that join the department must complete an 8-week academy conducted by the HFD Fire Training Division. The Recruit Academy consists of courses designed to review IFSAC and the NFPA Standard 1001, Firefighter I and II skills, Hazardous Materials Operations skills, Kansas Emergency Medical Technician skills, and HFD policies and procedures. Recruits are tested and evaluated weekly throughout the process on both written and practical skills, and are given both a final written exam and a practical skills test. Recruits must pass all exams with a minimum score of 70%.
The department works a modified 56-hour work week. Firefighters are required to work 24-hour shift assignments - living, eating, and sleeping at the station for the entire period (including weekends and holidays), and may be required to work overtime with little or no notice.
Firefighters work 10 days per month with 4 consecutive days off occurring 3-4 times per month. The schedule then repeats.