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Tumwater panel adopts revised firefighter exam process with speed interviews and oral boards

Tumwater Civil Service Commission · January 12, 2026

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Summary

The Tumwater Civil Service Commission approved an updated entry-level firefighter exam plan that uses 9-minute speed interviews on Feb. 24 and a March oral board; ranking will be 40% written exam and 60% oral board score.

The Tumwater Civil Service Commission approved an updated entry-level firefighter exam plan that shortens initial interviews and sets clearer scoring weights for candidate ranking.

Michelle Sutherland, secretary/examiner, described the process: speed interviews are scheduled for Feb. 24, with nine-minute interviews featuring three questions; candidates must meet a 70% minimum passing score to advance. The top candidates from the speed interviews will move to an oral-board process in March consisting of 30-minute interviews with 10 questions and two panels. Sutherland summarized the ranking formula: “40% based on the written exam and 60% based on the oral board score.”

Commissioners asked who would serve as interviewers. Chief Kremes and John Kerman’s deputy fire chief explained that speed-interview panels will include one firefighter plus one community member (a citizen at large) and that oral boards will use a similar mix of firefighters and community members.

After discussion, the commission voted to approve the updated exam plan and process. The commission record shows a motion, a second and a unanimous voice vote approving the plan.