The mayor and fire chief came to the southeastern edge of West Seattle today for what amounted to one big “Help Wanted” ad. During the event at the Joint Training Facility, new Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins said the department is recruiting – not just because of jobs open now, but because of up to 400 retirements projected in the next few years; he described SFD as an “aging department” and explained that recruiting and hiring is a long process:

This does NOT mean SFD is short-staffed right now – Chief Scoggins says all stations are fully staffed 24 hours a day, but if the force gets any thinner, current firefighters might be scheduled a little more intensively than the department would prefer. To cast a wide net for recruits, SFD will be going to community events around the city and holding open houses; if you or someone you know is interested in becoming a firefighter, just stop by a fire station to inquire. You can also go here to find out about qualifications, the application/hiring process, and more.