Jenny, New Recruit 1998

Jenny Toavs was a college student when a Golden Valley firefighter visited her neighborhood with recruitment information. At the time, she says the only thing she knew about the volunteer fire service was from watching “The Flintstones” when she was little.

“Fire school was so fun,” Toavs says. “You also get paid and earn a pension.” And then there’s the thrill—”almost a rush,” she says—that comes from helping people, and the strong friendships she’s developed with fellow firefighters.

“You become like family,“ Toavs adds. “We help each other out in so many ways. Because we all have full-time jobs elsewhere, there are lots of opportunities to network and share skills. It’s another way to be connected in your community.”

Firefighters: The Right Stuff

To be a paid, on-call firefighter, you must:

be at least 18 years old
be a high school graduate or equivalent
have a valid Minnesota Class D driver’s license (with a good driving record)
have a positive, constructive image and attitude
live or work within six minutes of a fire station (see Where We're At)
have dependable transportation
be in good health and pass a physical exam (more on physical requirements)
pass a physical abilities test
pass a background investigation
pass a written exam
complete an oral interview
complete a probation period
complete basic recruit training
complete requirements for first responder training
be available for a reasonable number of fire calls, drills, and meetings
be available for work detail once every two months
be able to make decisions regarding the safety of other firefighters and yourself
work as a team member under extremely stressful conditions, such as emergencies, danger, and/or criticism (more on a firefighter's work environment)
wear a pager while on call

Learn more about becoming a paid, on-call firefighter in Golden Valley by calling 763-593-8057.