El Paso Fire Department is looking for firefighter trainees

EL PASO, Texas - The El Paso Fire Department is actively seeking applicants for their upcoming fire academy. Candidates must have 24 hours of university or college credit hours, a minimum GPA of 2.0, or two years of full-time active military service and honorable discharge. The starting salary for the next firefighter trainee academy class is $16 an hour.

Even though the pay may sound nice, the path to becoming a firefighter is not so easy. Today at the Academy, the trainees' workout consisted of a circuit of squats, running, and climbing the several-story building, not one, not two, but seven times!

 "We do medical training they also do some fire training. Of course, that involves classroom and skills hands-on. We do physical as well training that involves fitness because of course our job does require a certain level of fitness," said Lieutenant Isaac Sattelmeier.

Captain of the training academy Richard Carpio gave this word of advice to interested candidates: "If you are a person who doesn't like to be outdoors and doing activities this might not be the job for you. If you don't like studying just due to the nature of the program you might want to develop better habits before you come to the program."

While at the training academy, ABC-7 spoke to two trainees part of Class 100. The first was Jacquline Morales who is the only woman in this training class. She and her brother are the first brother-sister duo to ever participate in the same training class.

Morales told us: "I wanted to be a firefighter because actually, my brother was the first one to be in the firefighter service he's here with me today at this academy. He's always wanted to be a firefighter his whole life...It's been really amazing, all the instructors are really good at what they do, they've obviously been doing this for a really long time, and they are the most qualified to teach us. I'm really enjoying it a lot I am learning a lot that I never thought I would understand, so it's really good you know."

Barry Goldstein was in the Army Infantry for 6 years and was looking for a more defined path. That's why he's grinding it out at the Fire Academy.

"Honestly I was looking for purpose and direction, and I needed a little more structure in my life, and I found it here at the fire academy. I would recommend it to those who are willing to put in the time and sacrifice to be able to achieve this. It's not for everybody per se because it is very difficult but they are there to push you and mentor you," Goldstein said.

Other requirements include a Texas Class "C" driver's license and good driving record, CPR certification, certification as a basic emergency medical technician and basic structural firefighter by the academy's graduation.

The application deadline is March 8, 2022, at government jobs.com.