884 Apply for Burbank Firefighter Openings

The Burbank Fire Department, which had expected as many as 2,000 people to quickly apply for four job openings, will continue to take applications for the slots today.

Capt. Bill Sanders said 884 applications had been received by late Wednesday. The city will accept applications until it receives 1,000, Sanders said.

Several hundred would-be firefighters, including some women, formed a three-block-long line at 8 a.m. Wednesday when the city began giving out the applications. A handful of hardy individuals had camped out in front of Burbank City Hall since Monday, hoping they would gain an advantage by being among the first in line.

Authorities opened restrooms in the nearby Golden Mall shopping center Tuesday night as the number of hopefuls increased.

The Fire Department currently has four openings but expects up to 15 openings within the next few years because of attrition and retirements. Sanders said young men and women have been attracted to careers as firefighters in recent years because of good wages and benefits.

People with the first 1,000 completed applications, which will be time stamped, will be considered for testing, Sanders said. The jobs pay $2,100 a month.

Sanders said about 2,000 applicants were expected because more than 3,000 people had filed cards with the city.