Firefighters Survive Probation To Earn Positions In Fire District

Probation is finally over for the seven newest members of the Spokane Valley Fire District.

Andy Reilly, John Leavell, Dan Wittenberg, Cliff Mehaffey, Mark Bankey, Jon Sprague and Brandon Kim were all sworn in Wednesday by assistant chief Dave Lobdellon after spending three months on probation with the department.

The modest ceremony made official a job the recruits spent a year chasing. Beginning with a written test last September, the recruits were tested countless times before being hired on a probationary basis following graduation from the fire academy.

“After recruit school we’re pretty confident they’re going to make it,” said Wayne Compton, chief of training for Valley Fire.

Nevertheless, Compton said the probationary period is a valuable tool for both the recruits and the fire district. The three-month period allows the recruits to gain hands-on experience while the district makes sure their personalities will blend with other firefighters.

Probation also gives Valley Fire a final chance to test their recruits.

“It serves as a closure so they can say, ‘OK, probation is finally over and now I can concentrate on being a firefighter,”’ Compton said.

Practical skills and oral tests given during the final weeks of probation marked the end of the probation process.

Field skills such as driving the trucks, hooking up to fire hydrants and operating the pumps on the trucks were tested during the practical skills portion.

Oral testing included quizzing about the recruits’ knowledge of department procedures, tactics and of the Valley streets between Havana and the state line.

All seven spent 13 weeks drilling, studying and testing at the joint city-Valley fire academy. Their classes at the academy concluded in June and the recruits were hired by Valley Fire in July.

“By the time they get out of recruit school we expect them to function fully as a member of the company,” Compton said.

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