Videos Offer Inside Look at SFD Station Life
Two new YouTube videos provide a rare glimpse into Seattle Fire Department culture. One documentary-style video, “The making of a Seattle Firefighter,” follows new hires through the academy, while another explores how a Seattle firehouse bonds over shared meals, highlighting the kitchen table as a central place for team-building.
The Seattle Fire Department's next application period for entry-level firefighters opens in the fall of 2025, with the hiring register being established in March 2026. The initial screening consists of the FireTEAM test and a Public Safety Self-Assessment (PSSA1), both administered through the National Testing Network. The FireTEAM exam is a video-based test that evaluates human relations, mechanical aptitude, math, and reading skills, taking about 2.5 hours to complete. To move on to the oral board interviews, candidates must score in the top tier, with the SFD typically inviting the top 1,500 candidates to proceed. Successful candidates will later face the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), a pass/fail assessment with a maximum time of 10 minutes
