Fire Department recruits for next wave of firefighters

Posted 10/12/17

Warwick Fire Chief James McLaughlin emphasized Wednesday that Warwick firefighters are trained to handle all sorts of emergencies whether rescues at sea, addressing an accident on heavily traveled Route 95 or getting an injured worker off a wind turbine.

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Fire Department recruits for next wave of firefighters

Posted

Warwick Fire Chief James McLaughlin emphasized Wednesday that Warwick firefighters are trained to handle all sorts of emergencies whether rescues at sea, addressing an accident on heavily traveled Route 95 or getting an injured worker off the roof of a three story building or trapped while repairing a wind turbine.

Now the chief is reaching out to recruit the next wave of Warwick Firefighters.

Joined by Mayor Scott Avedisian, McLaughlin kicked off the department’s recruiting drive that will run through Nov. 10.

Avedisian is hopeful of attracting “the best and brightest candidates” to form a pool from which the department will select recruits for the next two years. The objective is to form a class of about 18 recruits – the number will depend on projected retirements – who will undergo 18 weeks of training. Assuming they graduate, they will become one-year probationary firefighters.

During the academy training that could start early next year, recruits will receive $600 a week. As probationary firefighters they would be paid $933.08 a week, the mayor said.

Presently the department is budgeted for 220 firefighters and up until earlier this year had more personnel than needed who acted as “floaters” to fill in for sick firefighters. Because of retirements the department now has a contingent of 218, the chief said.

Applications must be submitted in person prior to Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. at Warwick Fire Department headquarters (111 Veterans Memorial Drive, Warwick, 02886). Application packages will be available at Warwick Fire Department headquarters.

Qualified applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old, a United States citizen, with High School Diploma or GED Certificate or higher. Applicants must also hold a valid driver's license, and background investigation. By meeting the requirements, the applicant will be eligible to take the written exam.

For more information regarding the recruitment and selection process, call the Warwick Fire Department at (401) 468-4056 or visit on the web at warwickrifd.org.

Comments

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  • Thecaptain

    Save this link. My prediction is that once again, the recruits that make the cut and are hired will all be (or the majority of them) siblings of active members. Burt here once again is some non fact -

    "Presently the department is budgeted for 220 firefighters and up until earlier this year had more personnel than needed who acted as “floaters” to fill in for sick firefighters.

    To be clear, the chief stated openly at the budget hearings both last year and this year that the "floaters" cover the VACATION TIME at straight time thereby saving the city overtime costs. Unfortunately, the chief openly lied as the accountability sheets in fact show that in the first fiscal quarter, (90 days) 1105 vacation days, each and every one covered at the OVERTIME rate. In fact, we have not found 1 vacation day or sick day that was covered at straight time. Not 1.

    Thursday, October 12, 2017 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Rob, I fully understand you have all the paperwork Merolla can feed you. What you can't do is interpret any of it. You are so off on all your facts. I don't know where to begin. I'd suggest sitting down with someone and have them explain to you, like I do with my daughter when I explain the alphabet to her. You obviously can't figure out basic math.

    Friday, October 13, 2017 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Funny stuff, just go to the Ustream Warwick City Council and you can hear the exact comments from the chief about the use of floaters. I am actually quite good with math and with reading. And the numbers that I quote come directly from the city documents. If you need to see them, you know how to contact me.

    Friday, October 13, 2017 Report this

  • StaciaClueless

    Little Rob C, of Janet Ct in Warwick, still too big of a pussy to do anything except take pictures and write anonymous posts on the beacon website. Even his daughter thinks he is a complete joke.

    Sunday, October 15, 2017 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Dear StaciaClueless, AKA Warwick DPW employee Cameron Whittaker, (DOB 7/28/98)

    I find it interesting that you try to cast insults when you yourself are a noted criminal and batterer. Arrested on April 12, 2017 for domestic assault, vandalism, and malicious injury to property for vandalizing the 2017 white Toyota Camey RI plate PY329 owned by your ex girls mother Ms. Jean Lonczak while you were co-habitating at 618 Main St. Coventry. At least that is the information contained within Coventry Police arrest report # 17-379-AR.

    Then, much like your other wife batterer buddy Warwick DPW employee Scott Small, you again assault your ex, Samantha Lonczak, on June 10, 2017 at Gaspee Point. According to the arrest report # 17-1070-AR Samantha had visible bruising and injury to her left bicep area, elbow, thumb and wrist. What a tough guy !! Then, once again, you damaged the white Toyota Camry plate #PY329 by backing into it with your red Nissan Rogue plate #QL526. After your arrest and multiple pretrial hearings, you eventually plead out on a rule 48A paying restitution and being remanded to the batterer prevention program. Your case was then filed, meaning that if you are a good boy for 1 year and have no police interaction, it goes away on a dismissal. Somehow I doubt that you will be a good boy. Much like your good buddy Scott Small who also was arrested twice for beating up his ex wife and being remanded to the batterer intervention program. You guys are real men. Beating up woman must make you feel like a real tough guy. Then you send anonymous threat letters to peoples houses, send them magazine subscriptions in the mail. Real macho tough guys. By the way, although I cancelled the Guitar World magazine, they were kind enough to send me the hand written subscription card which I matched exactly with your hand writing on your arrest report. However, Guitar World was also kind enough to send me this really nice 100% cotton T shirt for the aggravation. Hockey news magazine did even better. Not only did they send me your hand written subscription card, but they also sent me a $25.00 gift card to Home Depot for the aggravation. Great stuff.

    Oh yeah, one other thing. I am jealous of the bright future that you have as a batterer and of your career as a GARBAGE MAN. Very jealous.

    Sunday, October 15, 2017 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Oh, one other thing. I forgot to list Cameron Whittaker and Scott Small's official Rhode Island Criminal Identification numbers.

    Whittaker - RI @11796514

    Small - RI @10038643

    Sunday, October 15, 2017 Report this

  • StaciaClueless

    I heard you ran like a little bitch out of the courtroom after the case was DISMISSED.

    Sunday, October 15, 2017 Report this