Help wanted: Three Phoenix-area fire departments need recruits

PHOENIX — Three Phoenix-area fire departments are teaming up to recruit candidates.

Tempe, Scottsdale and Chandler are hoping to recruit as many as 1,500 people who are interested in becoming firefighters.

Keith Hargis, a battalion chief with the Chandler Fire and Medical Department, said the recruitment — which began Monday — is the start of a long road.

“Each process takes maybe six months from start to finish, depending on when the city hires,” he said. “This really is only the first component, followed by a very rigorous interview process.”

If they pass the pre-qualification process, the prospective firefighters will then have an in-person interview in September followed by an in-person exam in October.

“It really does take a lot of scrutiny and a very rigorous process to find those candidates, but when we’re done, we have fantastic people,” Hargis said.

In a release, Chandler Fire Chief Jeff Clark said the three departments have no current openings but the recruits will hopefully be used down the road.

“We are preparing for the time down the road when we will need to hire new firefighters or replace retiring members,” he said.

The recruiting list remains active for two years.

KTAR’s Martha Maurer contributed to this report.

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