Joining the Fire Department
Paid On-Call Firefighting is a rewarding and valuable way to serve your community. It takes dedication and many hours of training and education. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, there is a place in our department for you.
Interested candidates can fill out an application and mail it to City Hall or email it to Chief Hendrickson at ghendrickson@cityofdaytonmn.com.
Requirements
To join the fire department, candidates must:
- be 18 years or older
-
have a high school diploma
-
be able to pass a criminal background check
-
have a valid Minnesota driver’s license
-
pass a physical agility test (PAT) NEXT PAT TEST: TBD – 2024
-
live within 10 minutes of a Dayton fire station, per Google maps.
-
It is not required that candidates live within the boundaries of Dayton
-
DFD Hiring Process
In addition to the general requirements, there are several steps in the DFD hiring process. Please note that the full process can take up to 2 months. If there are no positions open at the time of your inquiry, your application will be saved and you will be contacted when a position comes available.
- Submit an Application. This can be sent to City Hall or emailed to Chief Hendrickson at ghendrickson@cityofdaytonmn.com
- Attend a Physical Ability Test session – NEXT PAT TESTING DATE: TBD – 2024
- Interview with a panel of up to 6 officers
- BCA criminal background and driving record check
- Psychological Evaluation
- Full physical, including drug test, hearing screening and EKG
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time commitment?
- Members must maintain a minimum call response quota of 25% in each calendar year to remain in good standing.
- Percentages are monitored on a monthly basis and discussed during performance evaluations with the Department Chief.
- Members must attend a minimum of 16 out of 24 hands-on trainings each year
- Trainings, truck checks and meetings occur on Thursday evenings
- Additional training dates may be offered (outside of Thursday evening), throughout the year
- Members are encouraged to participate in DFD and city sponsored events throughout the year such as the open house, parades, fundraisers, public education events, highway clean-up, etc.
What is the compensation?
- Calls responded to are compensated at an hourly rate.
- Trainings are compensated at an hourly rate.
- Required certification & training fees are paid by the DFD.
- Hours spent in training for required certifications are compensated at an hourly rate.
- New employees are enrolled in the DFD pension plan immediately upon hire. However, members are not vested until year five, and are fully vested after twenty years.
- DFD will pay for extra schooling/classes at the Chief’s discretion and with prior approval.
How am I trained? (See video link below)
- New employees will sustain a 12-18 month probationary period during which:
- Trainees are expected to respond to calls, familiarize with equipment, attend weekly trainings and attend school to earn the following certifications:
- EMT – 120 hour, college level course with practicals on Ambulance and/or in an Emergency Department
- Firefighter I with Haz-Mat Operations – 120 hour class (Video below)
- Firefighter II – 40 hour class (Video below)
- Trainees are expected to respond to calls, familiarize with equipment, attend weekly trainings and attend school to earn the following certifications:
Do I have to know how to drive a fire truck?
- New employees are assigned mentors who train them in vehicles operations.
- No prior experience is required.
- No special drivers licensure is required.
- New employees should not expect to drive an apparatus for several months after initial hiring
