Title
Approval of Entry-Level Firefighter Register
Recommended Action
Staff Recommendation:
Move to approve the certification of the Entry-Level Firefighter Register effective October 29, 2026.
Report
Staff Contact:
Hillory Flowers, Fire Chief, Olympia Fire Department, 360.753.8300
Telli Norton, Senior Human Resources Generalist/Chief Examiner, 360.709.2775
Background:
Based on Civil Service Rule V, Registers, Initial Eligibility Lists, initial eligibility lists were established with candidates who successfully met the qualifications of Entry-Level Firefighter and had applied/tested with Public Safety Test (PST). The top three-hundred forty-three (343) candidates were pulled from our PST portal and invited to interviews based on interview availability on a first-come, first-serve basis. One-hundred thirty-seven (137) candidates accepted and scheduled for speed interviews. One-hundred nine (109) candidates failed the interview. Twenty-eight (28) candidates passed the interview and proceeded to a Chief’s Interview. Eleven (11) candidates did not successfully pass the Chief’s Interview. Seventeen (17) candidates successfully passed the Chief’s Interviews.
Seventeen (17) candidates were Male. Thirteen candidates (13) were White/Caucasian, two (2) candidates were Asian/Pacific Islander, one (1) candidate was Hispanic/Latino, and one (1) candidate was Two or More Races.
The applicants went through two (2) of four (4) interview rooms. Interview rooms one (1) and three (3) had the same set of questions, and rooms two (2) and four (4) had the same questions.
Room 1:
OFD Fire Lieutenant, Jordan Wernet, OFD Firefighter Blake Regan, and community member, LeAnne Rangel
Room 2:
OFD Fire Lieutenant Sam Leining, OFD Firefighter Craig Myer, and OFD Firefighter Reina Pineda
Room 3:
OFD Fire Lieutenant Erin Johnson, OFD Firefighter Tyler Hangy, and community member Kenny Yarbrough
Room 4:
OFD Fire Lieutenant, Tyler Bottin, OFD Firefighter Tony Anserello, OFD Firefighter Jenna Norwood
The chief’s interview panel consisted of OFD Fire Chief, Hillory Flowers and OFD Deputy Fire Chief, Chad Boulay.
Findings:
Seventeen (17) candidates successfully met the qualifications and passed both the interview and chief’s interview. Seventeen (17) candidates have been placed on the register in accordance with scores of 71.64 - 99.65.
Policy Reference:
□ RCW 41.12.040(9), Organization of Commission-Secretary-Powers and Duties of Commission
□ Civil Service Rules, Rule IV, Examinations
□ Civil Service Rules, Rule V, Registers