BECKEY, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – The Firemen’s Civil Service Commission of the City of Beckley will be giving an entry-level firefighter test on Saturday, July 17, 2021.
The test, a written exam that analyzes general knowledge and an individual’s ability to understand aspects of the job, will begin at 9 a.m. and will be held at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. An individual must receive a minimum score of 70 to pass.
Those interested in taking the test can pick up an application from the Office of the Recorder-Treasurer located in the City Hall Municipal Building located at 409 South Kanawha Street in Beckley. Applications can be picked up between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
In accordance with the State Code of West Virginia, only those aged 18 to 35 at the time of application will be considered. Additionally, veterans should present a copy of their DD-214 upon application to be considered for the veteran’s preference points.
Applications will only be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 2.
According to Chief Edward Wills with the City of Beckley Fire Department, these entry-level tests are only given every three years. This year’s exam, however, is being given early because the commission currently does not have enough qualified applicants on the existing list to be considered for a position with the department.
Chief Wills explained that if an individual receives at least a score of 70 on the written exam, they will then have to take a physical ability test which must be passed annually for said individual to remain on the consideration list.
When it is time to hire, the Firemen’s Civil Service Commission will send the top three names on the list to the mayor, who then chooses and hires the most qualified individual. This is per State Code.
Wills says hiring within the department happens randomly but that usually new recruits come in as older firefighters retire out. Last November, the department expanded and hired five new employees at once due to a need for more manpower.
Wills expressed the importance of finding qualified individuals to fill future positions.
“Being in public safety we need to have a number of applicants that are ready to be hired at any given time,” he said. “Hopefully, we will get enough applicants. The more people we have testing, the more applicants we will have on our list.”
The Firemen’s Civil Service Commission of the City of Beckley is currently made up of three commissioners: Steve George, Gil DeLaRosa and Ed Tigert.