Facing a staffing crisis caused by expansion, retirements and intensely demanding jobs, Puget Sound Fire says it needs to hire 100 new firefighters.
NORTH BEND, Wash. — KING 5 anchors Jake Whittenberg and Mimi Jung got a firsthand look at the intense physical and mental demands firefighters face during a live fire training exercise at the Fire Training Academy in North Bend, highlighting the challenges behind a critical staffing shortage plaguing local fire departments.
Puget Sound Fire, which covers 120 square miles and 17 fire stations across SeaTac, Tukwila, Kent, Covington, Maple Valley, and Fire Districts 37 and 43, needs to hire 100 qualified firefighters over the next two years. The department is struggling with a drastically reduced candidate pool — a recent academy class enrolled only 11 recruits when officials hoped for 25.
This marks a dramatic shift from years past when fire departments might see two to three thousand applicants competing for just five open spots. Now, departments struggle to find people willing to take on the demanding job.
The massive hiring push is driven by a perfect storm of departmental changes. Puget Sound Fire is expanding to new stations while experiencing a wave of retirements from firefighters hired in the 1980s and early 1990s. Additionally, the department recently secured a grant to add a fourth crew member to its ladder companies, enhancing safety but requiring an additional 12 to 14 hires.
To address the shortage, the department is getting creative with its outreach. Recognizing that firefighting is a highly team-oriented environment, recruiters have been visiting Gonzaga University to target college athletes. They are also forging strong relationships with the military by attending job fairs at Joint Base Lewis McChord and conducting joint training exercises. Out-of-state recruitment has expanded to fire service schools in Alaska.
A major focus involves diversifying the force through programs like the recent “Future Women in EMS and Fire” weekend, which paired 50 women with female firefighter mentors. Participants practiced medical skills like CPR and blood pressure monitoring alongside physical tasks including moving hoses and carrying ladders to show women they’re capable of the demanding work.
Through programs like these, the department aims to show women they are capable of the physical work required.
Despite the urgent hiring need, officials stress they’re maintaining character standards. While the department can teach recruits to fight fires, they seek candidates with a “servant heart” who genuinely care about serving their community. Basic requirements include being at least 18 years old, having a good driving record, and wanting to be part of a team.
As Puget Sound Fire looks to the future, the message to the community is clear: the department is hiring, the benefits are robust, and the call to serve has never been more urgent.
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