BSFD - About Us

City of Balch Springs Fire Department

Fire Fighter

Starting Salary: $33,413

The eligibility requirements for Balch Springs Fire Department Fire Fighter are established by the City of Balch Springs Fire Fighters' and Police Officers' Civil Service Commission. The following represents part of these requirements. Applicants must:

Be at least 18 to 35 years of age at the time of testing. Must have reached at least 18 years of age as of the date of the test, and not have reached 36 of age as of the date of appointment;
Be a United States citizen and able to prove legal eligibility to work within the United States;
Be a high school graduate or possess a GED equivalency certificate;
Be able to read, write, and speak the English language;
Be certified as a structural Fire Fighter by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. At the time of the entrance examination, applicants must provide evidence of certification issued by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection;
Be certified as an emergency medical technician (EMT) by the Texas Department of State Health Services. At the time of the entrance examination, applicants must provide evidence of certification by the Texas Department of State Health Services;
Must pass a comprehensive background investigation and not have any of the disqualifies established by the City of Balch Springs Fire Fighters' and Police Officers' Civil Service Commission;
Be able to perform the essential duties of a Fire Fighter and meet all job description requirements.

For more information related to Fire Fighter Certification, please contact the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, Austin, Texas, (512) 239-4911

For more information related to EMT Certification , Please contact the Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas, (512) 458-7111

Balch Springs Fire Department - (972) 557-6040

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Employment

The Balch Springs Fire Department is a progressive organization delivering a wide variety of emergency and non-emergency services. Emergency service include: fire suppression, advanced life support medical treatment, special rescue operations, hazardous material incident mitigation, and response to weather-related emergencies. Primary non-emergency service include: fire prevention inspections, public fire safety education programs, public CPR classes, and support of numerous community events.

Civil service examination

The City of Balch Springs Fire Department is a civil service organization governed by the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 143. All applicants seeking an entry-level position must successfully complete the written Civil Service entrance examination which is conducted as necessary to maintain a hiring eligibility list. Additional information may be obtained by calling (972) 557-6040.

Candidates who have served in the military and wish to receive five (5) additional points to their passing score (70) must provide, no later than the day of the exam, a photocopy of Form DD214, Undeleted, which indicates that the individual served a minimum of 180 consecutive days active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and received an "Honorable" discharge. (Undeleted DD214 contains sections 23-30). General discharges under honorable conditions or any other discharges are ineligible so please do not provide you original DD214.

Each eligibility list shall be in effect for 1 year from the date of the examination, unless exhausted earlier.

Certification

The Balch Springs Fire Department requires that individuals applying to the department have, as a minimum, a current Texas Commission on Fire Protection Basic Structural FireFighting Certification. In addition, all applicants must be certified, as an Emergency Medical Technician - Basic by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Military personnel and out-of-state applicants should contact the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas Department of State Health Services in order to obtain the requirements for moving certifications to Texas.

Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility requirements for the Balch Springs Fire Department Fire Fighter are established by the City of Balch Springs FireFighters' and Police Officers' Civil Service Commission.

Causes for Disqualification

That the applicant:

Citizenship: Is not a citizen of the United State of America. (Temporary disqualification until citizenship obtained.)
Language Requirement: Has failed to demonstrate his/her ability to read, write, and fluently speak the English language. (Temporary disqualification until deficiency corrected.)
Essential Function of Position: Is unable to perform the essential functions of the position to which he/she seeks appointment, with r without reasonable accommodation. (Temporary disqualification until deficiency corrected.)
Physical Agility Test: Is unable to successfully complete the Balch Springs Fire Department physical agility test within one (1) attempt.
Debt Responsibility: Demonstrates a failure to pay just debts. Candidates will be considered on a case by case basis due to the number of variables involved with factors considered including type and number of debts, reason(s) for the bad credit, extenuating circumstances, and the potential for the credit-related problems impacting the applicant's judgment and integrity. (Temporary disqualification until resolution of bad credit and /or credit related issues.)
Felony Conviction: Has been convicted of conduct that constitutes a felony under State or Federal Law, or the Code of Uniform Military Justice. (Permanent disqualification.)
Felony Conduct Admission: Has admitted conduct that constitutes a felony under State or Federal Law, or the Code of Uniform Military Justice and/or has accepted probation and/or deferred adjudication for such conduct. (Temporary disqualification of up to ten years with a minimum disqualification until the statue of limitation expires for the applicable violation and the Candidate has demonstrated appropriate improvement in judgment.
Class A or B Misdemeanor Conviction: Has been convicted of conduct that constitutes a Class A or Class B Misdemeanor under State or Federal law or the Code of Uniform Military Justice and/or deferred adjudication for such conduct. (Temporary disqualification for up to five (5) years dependent upon nature of crime and a demonstrated improvement in judgment.)
Class A or B Misdemeanor Admission: Has admitted conduct that constitutes a Class A or Class B Misdemeanor under the Texas Penal Code, equivalent Federal Law, or equivalent Code of Uniform Military Justice and/or deferred adjudication for such conduct. (Temporary disqualification until the statue of limitation expires for the applicable violation and the candidate has demonstrated an appropriate improvement in judgment.)
Moral Turpitude: Has admitted to conduct involving a crime or act of moral turpitude. Candidates will be considered on a case by case basis with factors considered including the nature of the event and the potential for the conduct impacting the applicant's ability to perform Public Safety duties and uphold the expected conduct and image required of a firefighter. Individuals registered as "sex offenders" will be permanently disqualified. (Temporary or Permanent disqualification based on nature of occurrence.)
Pending Criminal Charge: Currently has pending criminal charges of any type, or is in "deferred adjudication" and/or "probation" for a criminal offense other than minor Class C traffic violations. (Temporary disqualification pending the resolution of the criminal charges and/or completion of the deferred adjudication and/or probation requirements and a demonstrated improvement in judgment.)
False or Incomplete Information: Has made a false statement in any material fact; withheld information, practiced or attempted to practice deception or fraud in his/her application, examination, background investigation, polygraph examination, or medical examination. (Permanent disqualification)
Employment Process Completion: Has failed to complete or satisfactorily meet the employment process requirement of the Fire Department including, but not limited to, missed appointments, failure to return application package or other necessary paperwork, failure to promptly notify the Fire Department of changes in address or telephone numbers, or who otherwise fail to complete the application process.
Oral Interview Process: Has failed to satisfactorily complete the oral interview process, including, but not limited to any personal or automated interview process. Candidates will be disqualified for failure to verbally communicate effectively and appropriately; failure to demonstrate an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a Balch Springs firefighter; failure to present the maturity expected of a Balch Springs firefighter; failure to accurately and precisely respond to the questions of the interviewers; and failure to demonstrate his/her knowledge of the essential skills, knowledge, and abilities expected of a certified Firefighter or Emergency Medical Technician. (Temporary disqualification until next examination.)
Illegal Drug Use: Has used illicit substances as indicated by the following guidelines:
- Admission of illegal use of marijuana five or less times (experimentation) within the last two (2) years. (Temporary disqualification until two (2) years has passed from last use.)
- Admission of illegal use of marijuana more than five times within the last five (5) years. (Temporary disqualification until five (5) years has passed from last use.)
- Admission of abuse or misuse of legally obtained prescription medication(s) of another person. Conduct involving the use, abuse and/or misuse of prescription medication(s) will be considered on a case by case basis with consideration given to circumstances and elapsed time since last drug use. (Permanent or temporary disqualification based on circumstances.)
- Admission of illegal use of felony grade substances as defined in the Texas Penal Code. (Temporary disqualification until ten (10) years has passed since last use.)
- Admission of illegal use of anabolic steroids. (Temporary disqualification until ten (10) years has passed since last use.)
- Admission of the illegal use of one or more of the following common name drugs and/or their chemical analogs"
  - Cocaine
  - Crystal Methamphetamine or Methamphetamine
  - Heroin
  - OxyContin
  - Crack Cocaine
  - PCP
  - Katamine
  - LSD
  - Permanent disqualification
Driving Record: Has a driving record incompatible with the safe operation of emergency vehicles, the required driving standards of the City of Balch Springs Fire Department, or which present potential liabilities to the City of Balch Springs.
- Three or more events (moving violations or preventable accidents ) in the preceding thirty-six (36) months. (Temporary disqualification until standard met.)
- Reckless driving or similar conviction within preceding sixty (60) months. (Temporary disqualification until standard met.)
- Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs within the preceding sixty (60) months. (Temporary disqualification until standard met.)
Prior Employment: Has a history of unstable work including, but not limited to, short terms of employment over the candidate's employment history; employment in an illegal occupation; termination of employment without proper notice; and/or dismissal from any public safety position. Has been disciplined, dismissed, or resigned in lieu of dismissal from any employment for inefficiency, delinquency, misconduct or policy violations. Applicants will be considered on a case by case basis with due consideration of the situation(s). (Permanent or temporary rejection based on circumstances.)
Judgment Issues: Exercised poor judgment skills within the receding five years. The applicant has demonstrated either immaturity or poor judgment in the applicant's decision making process. Examples of such conduct would include, but is not limited to: attendance at parties or social functions at which controlled substances or dangerous drugs are consumed, and such activity is known or should have been known by the applicant; silent acceptance of known illegal conduct by others in his presence; workplace behavior/decisions that adversely affect the business or associates, with little or no objectivity justifiable need for such behavior; arrests for misdemeanor offenses other than minor traffic violations (Temporary disqualification based on circumstances of until the applicant can demonstrate that the applicant's judgment skills have developed.)
Licensing & Certification: Has failed to meet all legal requirement necessary for future licensing and certification as required by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas Department of State Health Services. (Temporary disqualification until required certification(s) obtained.)
Academy Performance: Has a history of substandard performance and/or a negative recommendation or referral from his/her fire an/or EMS training school. (Temporary or permanent disqualification based on nature of the information received from the academy or school.)
Psychological/Medical: Has failed to receive the required recommendation for employment by the Commissions' psychologist, psychiatrist, or medical doctor. (Temporary or permanent rejection based on nature of the rejection.)
Required Minimal Education: Has failed to meet and/or provide documentation of the minimal educational requirements in accordance with Commission rules. (Temporary or permanent rejection based on nature of the rejection.)

For specific information relating to any disqualified or your personal situation, contact the Balch Springs Fire Department at (972) 557-6044