The Madison Fire Department (MFD) announced a new internship program aimed at cultivating up-and-coming talent from communities historically underrepresented in the public safety workforce, according to the city of Madison. The program was developed in partnership with the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and Fire Fighters Local 311.
The city of Madison Firefighter/EMT Development Program will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, March 13, with an expected start date in June. The department hopes to hire two interns per year for the duration of the grant-funded program. The internship is a comprehensive, full-time paid learning experience and career development pathway geared toward youth interested in firefighting and EMS as a career.
Over the course of their two-year commitment to the program, interns will participate in the operational and administrative aspects of the MFD. They will also earn an associate degree from Madison College. Upon completion of the program, successful participants will be qualified for placement on the firefighter/EMT hiring eligibility list for the MFD.
For each participant, the 40-hour work week will be comprised of:
- 12 hours of class instruction and dedicated studying time;
- 12 hours of training, experience, and mentoring at fire stations;
- 12 hours of administrative internship work; and
- Four hours of shadowing experience with MFD staff.
Interested candidates may apply for the internship from March 13–27.
