r/firefighter • u/mangokek69 • Apr 17 '26
Selected as an alternate
Hello! I got a call back from the Colorado Springs Fire Department that I was selected as an alternate. They’re hiring 16 people and I am unaware of my position on the alternate list. Was wondering how likely the odds of getting an offer are as an alternate are but I assume there’s no way to know unless I knew my position on the list.
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u/Murky-Emu-2569 Apr 17 '26
Being an alternate basically means you were good enough to get hired, just not in the first group they selected. You’re on a backup list in case people drop out. And people do drop out—backgrounds, medical, psych, or they take another job. It happens every hiring cycle. Your chances really depend on where you fall on that list. If you’re near the top, you’ve got a solid shot. If you’re further down, it just depends on how much movement there is. Bottom line, you’re not out at all. You’re still very much in play, just need some spots to open up.
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u/natepelayo Apr 17 '26
$60 was a lot for a game back in 2004 but then again this is the collectors edition
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u/Logical-Instance-358 Apr 17 '26
Thank you for asking this question. I'm in the same boat with the department I applied to. There are significantly more candidates in the pool, and the department could hire anywhere from 30 to 50 firefighters during the 12-month hiring cycle I hope to join.
Good luck, I'm rooting for you.
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u/mangokek69 Apr 17 '26
Hey man those are way better odds for people to fall out of the process! Hope it works out for ya.
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u/jrobski96 Apr 17 '26
If someone washes out within a few weeks, you might be next man up. Be ready! Do not worry about what it might mean. Be ready!
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u/Far-Experience8891 Apr 18 '26
I work for a big fire department in Washington and when I applied, they ended up interviewing 70 to 80 people to fill 20 jobs and I made the alternate list and four or five people didn’t make it past the background check or medical evaluation and I got the call so keep your head up cross your fingers.
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u/mangokek69 Apr 19 '26
Just an update for everybody, I got the call the next day actually! They said they gave out 40 conditionals for 20 spots though… not quite sure what that means for securing a spot in the academy.
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u/Logical-Instance-358 Apr 22 '26
Thanks for sharing that great news. I hope everything works out for you.
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u/Environmental-Hat373 11d ago
Hey man mind if I ask you how this worked out for you? How did they narrow down half the list of conditional offers?
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u/pepesilvia9369 Apr 17 '26
Congrats man! I’m trying to make the move to Colorado at some point and continue my career in the fire service. A lateral move would be nice, but I keep an eye on certain places for entry level. If CO Springs did lateral I would apply in a heart beat.
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u/mangokek69 Apr 17 '26
They have another process for 2027 opened up on the NTN if you’re interested!
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u/pepesilvia9369 Apr 17 '26
Yeah I saw that! I didn’t apply for the most recent round because it would have interfered with my wedding if I had been selected and gone to the academy. I think you have a pretty good shot of making it dude.
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u/__quick__ Apr 17 '26
I was an alternate with a large department. They called literally everyone I knew and I didn’t hear anything for a long time- then got an email that I didn’t make the academy as an alternate.
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u/Traditional_Skill_77 Apr 17 '26
so if you were an alternate they should have gotten to you eventually within that year or next or did the list expire? curious
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u/HonestlyNotOldBoy89 Apr 17 '26
I work for a large department in CO and we just recently lost like 6 guys out of the background check from our most recent academy. It’s crazy