Firefighter Mock Interview
Practice 35 Firefighter interview questions covering situational scenarios, physical fitness, and emergency response judgment.
Question 27 of 35
What can you tell me about our fire department's ALS program?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Example Answer
What to Avoid
Example Answer 2
Community Answers
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
Before interviewing for a Firefighter position, it is imperative to research the department you have applied to. Interviewers want to see how serious you are about working for their department and what you have learned about their operations.
For this particular question, describe as much as you can about their Advanced Life Support (ALS) program, including how many ambulances they have, how many ALS engine and truck companies, how many Paramedics, when the department implemented the program, how many EMS captains and chiefs, how many medical calls they run per year, etc.
Since fire departments run many medical calls, a lot of departments have an ALS program to provide optimal service to the community. The position you are interviewing for may have you working on an ambulance or an ALS engine or truck. The interviewer wants to see that you have done your homework before the interview and know about the services they offer.
Be sure to include any medical training you have in your response.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"Your ALS program was implemented in 1995 when there was a housing boom. The Fire Chief decided more stations needed to be built to serve the growing community and that ALS services were necessary. The department currently has 15 ambulances with at least one Paramedic and one EMT staffing each, and a grant was written for two additional units to be purchased. Twenty engine companies and three truck companies are ALS, with medical emergencies making up 70% of all calls. Your department has three EMS Captains, a Registered Nurse in charge of quality assurance, and one Deputy Chief in charge of EMS operations."
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
The interviewer wants to see that you have done your research, so avoid not doing any. If you know very little about their ALS program, it shows the interviewer that you may not be that interested in working for their department.
Some Firefighters interview at multiple departments since the profession is so competitive. The interviewer wants to see that even if you are interviewing at various departments, you took the time to learn all about their department. If you are testing at multiple departments, take the time before your interview to review what this department offers to the community.
Most fire departments are very proud of their ALS programs and the services they provide. Show the interviewer that you are also impressed by their ALS program and are excited to be a part of it if hired.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"Your ALS program was launched in 2013 as a pathway for EMTs and Paramedics working for the local ambulance company to become Firefighter Paramedics. Currently, your department operates 28 ALS ambulances, four reserve ambulances, and 45 ALS engine and truck companies which run 80% of the calls for service received every year. You employ over 480 Paramedics and 95 EMTs to staff these units and also have a bike medic team for special events."
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