Our Firefighters' number 1 priority, stated in our oath, will be the safety of our Citizens of Marion and Grant County at all cost.
I feel, as your Fire Chief, I am responsible for assuring that when we hire a new firefighter that he or she is the best of the best. I have come up with a plan to assure we hire only the best person to protect our public and their property, this is called firefighters ride along.
Fire Chief Steve Gorrell
This program starts with every applicant providing a history of his or her life from grade school to present.
Also before the applicant can ride with the firefighters they must first pass an agility test taken at the Washington
township fire department in Indianapolis, the test will cost the applicant $100.00 and is a pass or fail test.
Once this applicant passes this test they will receive an identification card stating that this person has passed the
CPAT test.
The applicant will then give this card to our office and will be placed on file.
Next a background check of the applicant will be given through the police department.
If the applicant has any criminal history he or she will be placed at the bottom of the list and if this person has a
felony of any kind his application will be taken from our files and the applicant will no longer be eligible.
If an applicant has ever assaulted a female and a police report was filed the applicant will no longer be eligible.
If an applicant shows that he or she cannot hold a steady job for a period of time they will be moved to the bottom
of the list.
If an applicant has a record of drinking and driving or public intoxicated the applicant will be moved to the bottom of
the list of hires.
First the applicant will report to headquarters to look over a calendar, this calendar will show the available times and
dates for an applicant to ride along with the firefighters.
The applicant will be expected to arrive at station #1 at 6:30 am to ride at least 12 hours on each shift, if the
applicant is late he will be told to leave and will be placed at the bottom of the list.
By doing this the applicant will be viewed by all 3 shifts and the firefighters will be able to review this person and get
a feel as to what this person is like and how they respond to a call of an emergency.
Once this applicant completes his 3 days of ride along or office will then start receiving letters of approval or disapproval
from all firefighters.
After the ride along is completed the applicants that the firefighters approve of will be interviewed by our Deputy Chiefs
and 3 privates that was voted to be placed on our (hiring board committee).
