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College Place Civil Service Commission extends lieutenant eligibility list and updates firefighter testing to allow 18-year-olds
Summary
The College Place Civil Service Commission voted June 12 to extend the fire lieutenant eligibility list through April 2026 and approved changes to firefighter eligibility testing that lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 and shift some certification requirements from mandatory to preferred.
The College Place Civil Service Commission voted June 12 to extend the fire lieutenant eligibility list for one year and to adopt changes to firefighter eligibility testing that lower the minimum hiring age from 21 to 18.
Civil Service Commission staff told commissioners the extension was requested in a letter from Fire Chief Winters because the lieutenant eligibility list had expired in April 2025 and the department still had two candidates remaining on the prior list. “The fire chief has asked that we extend the fire lieutenant eligibility list for 1 more year, so until April 2026,” a staff member said during the meeting.
The extension addresses a list that previously certified six names; commissioners were told four of those six were hired, leaving two names available for consideration. The commission approved a motion to extend the list; the motion passed with recorded vocal “aye” votes and no opposition noted in the transcript.
Commissioners also approved updates to the firefighter eligibility testing and minimum qualifications. Staff explained the proposed changes would move the minimum age requirement from 21 to 18, change certain items from “required” to “preferred” (including one year of firefighting experience, the IFSTA/IFSTA-equivalent Firefighter I certification, and Wildland Firefighter II), and require some certifications by the time of the chief’s interview rather than at the time of hire. “So they’re wanting to change it from 21 years to 18 years,” a staff member said.
Staff said the department typically begins testing in early July and that there are currently no open firefighter positions; the changes are intended to broaden the eligibility pool, including candidates coming from the local university who may be younger. A staff member also stated the minimum state age is 18, referencing state code in general terms during the discussion: “I believe the youngest is 18. It is 18.”
At least one commissioner expressed concern about lowering the age, citing maturity and performance differences between 18- and 21-year-olds and offering an anecdote about a California Highway Patrol study that officials used to illustrate age-related safety concerns. The commissioner said the chief would still make final hiring decisions after testing and the chief’s interview, providing a point at which maturity and fitness could be assessed.
The motion to adopt the testing updates was made and seconded and passed by recorded “aye” votes with no recorded opposition. Meeting minutes in the packet noted the changes were proposed by Lieutenant Evanson and that the update was to the eligibility-list specifications rather than to create an immediate vacancy. Staff clarified that the update did not change any state requirements and that hiring decisions remain contingent on the chief’s review and department procedures.
No public comment was recorded on these items. The commission concluded the meeting following approval of the testing updates.
