S.E. Thurston Fire Authority

The Yelm and Rainier areas are vibrant and dynamic cities, situated in South Thurston County - with picturesque views of Mount Rainier from almost any location around the area. Yelm and Rainier represent a very special place in Washington State with a fascinating mix of small-town pride and history. The Yelm/Rainier area stands out among the most livable cities in Thurston County attributed to the highly attractive landscape, proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and affordability. The Yelm/Rainier area has grown over 42% in the last 10 years and is expected to more than double its current population by 2040.

To a large extent, Yelm and Rainier act as a bedroom community for residents working in the surrounding cities of Tacoma, Olympia, and Centralia. They also host a large number of military families currently or formerly stationed at nearby Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Yelm is also adjacent to Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment which draws thousands of students to the area from around the world for events throughout the year.

Yelm and Rainier offer safe neighborhoods, affordability, great schools, fabulous parks, family-oriented community celebrations, and a vast array of business, employment, and volunteer opportunities. The Yelm/Rainier area has become the center of commerce for South Thurston and South East Pierce Counties, with a daily market area of over 30,000 people due to the availability of retail goods and services, and proximity to all major metropolitan areas of Western Washington.

S.E. Thurston Fire Authority serves an area of 84 square miles including the Cities of Yelm & Rainier and the surrounding unincorporated area located in Thurston County. The City of Yelm and Rainier are classified as suburban with the remaining service area designated as rural. Call volume in excess of 4,000 emergency responses annually. S.E. Thurston currently staffs two stations and is the primary BLS transport agency for our jurisdiction. SETFA has 34 career members, as well as a volunteer program.

Call Volume:
2022 = 3,987

2023 = 4,005

2024=2402 YTD (July)

SE THURSTON FIRE AUTHORITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Please visit SETFA Career Employment to review the Firefighter/EMT job description and job announcement minimum qualifications for (Entry-Level Firefighter/EMT).

SE Thurston Fire Authority - Firefighter has 1-2 vacancies.

1-2 positions (between Entry-Level and/or Lateral) between 4th Quarter 2024/1st Quarter 2025.

Entry Level:  

2024

Probation: $6,804.81/month, $81,657.70/year

Top Step: $8,506.01/month, $102,072.12/year

2025 *Projected per CBA

Probation: $7,049,78/month, $84,597.41/year

Top Step: $8,812.23/month, $105,746.76/year

The following is an overview of the benefits available to SE Thurston Fire Authority Firefighters. This position is represented by IAFF LOCAL 3628.

Comprehensive Medical Coverage:WA Fire Commissioners Association PPO100 (First Choice Health Network): 100% coverage for medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your eligible dependents.

Robust Retirement Medical: Post-retirement health care plan covering medical, dental, and vision insurance until age 65 or Medicare eligibility, whichever comes first.

Retirement: SE Thurston Fire Authority provides a comprehensive retirement program for Firefighters who are eligible for the State of Washington Public Employees Retirement System – LEOFF 2. Both SE Thurston Fire Authority and the employee contribute to the system. The LEOFF plans are defined benefit plans to be taken when you qualify for retirement. The amount of the benefit is determined by service credit and average final compensation with a minimum of 5 years of service for vesting. See the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems LEOFF plan booklet for further and current information.

Deferred Compensation: Employees may directly reduce their taxable income and defer this taxation until retirement or withdrawal of funds by participating in a deferred compensation plan. Deferred compensation allows an employee to defer up to $23,000 of their gross annual salary (more if over age 50) in 2024. SE Thurston Fire Authority offers a deferred compensation matching benefit and will match up to 5% of your monthly pay rate.

MERP - (Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan): SE Thurston Fire Authority contributes $75 into this account per month. The purpose of this account is to pay for eligible medical expenses after retirement.

Hours of Work: Firefighters work a 48/96 schedule, which is 48 hours ON with 96 hours OFF, then another 48 hours ON with 96 hours OFF, within a 3-platoon system. Work schedules may be subject to overtime, weekends, and holidays.

Career Opportunities: SE Thurston Fire Authority encourages career development for its employees and seeks to promote qualified employees..

Kelly Day Leave:"Kelly" days are scheduled days off that reduce the number of hours an employee works, helping to balance workload and maintain health and well-being. Firefighters receive 18 Kelly days per year, effectively reducing their work hours over the year.

Vacation:Firefighter employees earn 144 hours of paid annual leave during their first year of employment. This rate increases with years of service. (see below)

- 0-5 years: 12 hours per month (144 hours/year)
- 6-10 years: 16 hours per month (192 hours/year)
- 11-15 years: 20 hours per month (240 hours/year)
- 16+ years: 24 hours per month (288 hours/year)

Sick Leave: Sick leave is accrued at the rate of 24 hours per month with no maximum accrual.

Holidays: 11 Paid holidays which include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.

Tuition Reimbursement: SE Thurston Fire Authority provides a tuition reimbursement program for job-related education pursued during employment. Firefighters who obtain an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree may qualify for a base wage increase of 2% for an Associate’s degree and 4% for a Bachelor’s degree upon completing their probation period.

Cost of Living Adjustment: SE Thurston offers an annual Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2%-5% wage increase defined by the Consumer Pricing Index for Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue.

2% Base Wage Longevity Pay:SE Thurston Fire Authority values the dedication and experience of its employees. As a recognition of continued service, firefighters receive a 2% base wage increase for every five years of completed service.

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice. See IAFF LOCAL 3628 Union Contract for more detailed information. All items listed above are subject to Collective Bargaining between SE Thurston Fire Authority and IAFF LOCAL 3628.