Applicants who pass all the required stages are then offered employment conditional upon being medically cleared for firefighting duties. The recruits then complete a basic orientation, will start their Firefighter I and Emergency Medical Technician courses and are permitted to respond to emergency calls and perform limited duties under the direction of experienced firefighters.

Probation Period

No experience or training is necessary to become a probationary part-time firefighter with the Shawnee Heights Fire District. All the training, equipment, and certifications part-time firefighters need to perform their jobs are provided by the District. Part-time firefighters are placed on probation and remain on probation until they have:

• Successfully completed at least one (1) year of service, and
• Obtained IFSAC Firefighter I and Hazardous Materials Operations certifications, and
• Obtained Kansas Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, and
• Obtained at least a valid Class B Kansas Driver License, and
• They have completed a training task book furnished by the district which ensures that the firefighter can respond to emergencies and properly operate all the equipment used by the fire district.

These courses provide new firefighters with the knowledge and skills to safely and effectively perform basic firefighting skills and perform as part of a team at an emergency incident. These courses form the foundation for advanced firefighter training, such as Driver/Operator, Fire Inspector, and Fire Instructor certifications.

In order to respond to an incident that may involve hazardous materials (HAZMAT), all firefighters must complete Hazardous Materials Operations level training and certification. This course provides firefighters with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to analyze, plan, and implement performance-defensive response actions for HAZMAT incidents.

Nearly two-thirds of the calls that our firefighters respond to annually involve medical emergencies. This 200-hour course trains firefighters to provide basic life support that includes patient assessment, airway management, and use of automatic defibrillators. After completing the course and becoming certified, EMTs are required to complete annual continuing education courses to maintain their skills and certification through the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services.