The next 12 months will be very busy for four new North Whatcom Fire and Rescue (NWFR) recruits.
Prior to being hired on January 6, the four new recruits – Gary DeJager, Philip Jackson, Alden Roberts and Chris Lubenow – were required to complete a variety of pre-hire testing. This included a written test that covered mechanical aptitude, basic math, spelling, reading comprehension and memorization.
They also participated in a series of interviews as well as a physical abilities test, which entailed lifting objects, climbing stairs and operating in confined spaces. The hiring process started in early November.
The candidates were ultimately ranked, and DeJager, Jackson, Roberts and Lubenow were given conditional offers of employment. They then had to undergo a medical and physical evaluation, a background check, a psychological evaluation and a driving record review prior to being offered full-time jobs.