Become a Firefighter
The Clear Lake Fire Department (CLFD) is a paid on-call department serving the City of Clear Lake, Clear Lake Twp and Palmer Twp. CLFD has two fire stations, one in the City of Clear Lake and one in Palmer Twp. Department members respond to a wide variety of emergencies including medicals, fire suppression, accidents and more.
Although CLFD is a paid on-call department, there is a strong "volunteer" aspect to being a member. If you were to ask any member, no one is here for the paycheck. If you're looking to give back to your community and to help others during some of their most difficult times, we would love to hear from you. We have additional information below to help answer common questions.
COMPENSATION:
Members receive $12/hr. for calls and training. Payroll is paid three times a year, once in June, once before Christmas and once at the end of the year. There is also a retirement benefit which members become partially vested after 10 years of service and fully vested after 20 years.
COMMITMENT:
Being "Paid On-Call" simply means members respond to calls when available. All members carry a pager alerting us when 911 is activated in our area for medical and fire related emergencies. When able, members respond to the appropriate station from their home or work (if allowed by their employer). CLFD requires 25% attendance for calls. CLFD averages approx. 200 calls per year, meaning members need to make approx. 50 calls per year to be in good standing.
TRAINING:
All training is paid for by CLFD. Initial training includes MN State Certification for Firefighter 1, Firefighter 2, HAZMAT and EMR (Emergency Medical Responder). After this initial training, ongoing training is held twice a month on the second and last Monday. State regulations require first responders to maintain ongoing training every year. Members who regularly attend our training nights will meet such requirements. Members who cannot attend our regular training nights may keep up their training requirements by attending other classes.
COMMUNITY:
CLFD members also participate in several community events such as department Open House, Toys for Tots, National Night Out and more. This is a great way to meet others in the community and develop lasting relationships.
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must be 18 years or older and reside within 15 minutes of a fire station. They must also have a valid driver’s license and high school diploma/GED. Candidates must also pass a criminal background check and meet physical requirements.
APPLICATION:
Click Here to fill out our pre-application and to learn more about being a firefighter today!