Are you on any other hiring lists?
Are you currently on any other fire department eligibility list?
What would you do if we offered you a position, and then soon after, you were offered a position with a bigger and better-paying department, why would you stay?
When do you expect to start working if you are offered the job?
What would you do if another city called you for the job?
When asking this type of question departments are really seeing if you'll quickly and easily make a hiring decision for them. If your answer is something similar to, "well I really wanna work for the larger department up the road", or "I'm currently on the hiring list the department I volunteer for and expect to get offered a position there soon", then your interview is probably over as far as the interviewers are concerned.
This question takes some honesty and ability to know and understand the position that the department you're interviewing for is in. It can be very costly to hire a firefighter, put them through an academy, get them gear, uniforms and training, and for a new employee to quickly leave is a waste of resources and effort.
I suggest telling the truth regardless of your position on other lists or where you want to be hired but be able to make your answer fit the department you are interviewing for. It can be appropriate to say something along the lines of testing other places but here are reasons I want to work here.
There is really one major pitfall to a question like this. Admitting that you don't really know anything about the department or that you're actually more interested in another department. These are almost immediately eliminating answers.
The best ways to prepare for this type of question is to have a list of reasons you would want to work at that department. Most hiring panels know that it's not easy to get the job, they've been there themselves before, but if the only reason you're interviewing with them is because they're offering a full-time job, they'll probably choose someone else.
For every department you interview for, learn about how they run calls, and how they train and how life in the station is as best you can, and have a list of reasons you like that department over other departments. If you get this type of question you'll be able to elevate yourself above other candidates.
I am currently testing at a lot of departments and interviewing every chance I get to obtain my professional goal of becoming a full-time firefighter. I am on other lists and do hope to attain my goal soon. As far as leaving somewhere after already getting the job I can not imagine doing so. Loyalty is one of the values that I hold true in my personal life and one that I think is important to the job of being a firefighter. Loyalty to my crew, to the citizens, to my oath when I take the job. Without that firefighters would not be revered as well as they are. Because of this value, I have done the research ahead of time and have decided to only apply and interview at departments that I really want to work with. This department fits me very well, I like how once I get through my step raises I can apply to join specialized teams, or participate in department-wide trainings, all the while continuing to develop my firefighter and EMT skills. I know also, that this department is well revered for its firefighter academy, and seeks to get the best out of its personnel. For this reason I have chosen to apply here and hope to get hired here someday. I know I would fit in well at this department and look forward to continuing to learn about the profession further. I hope that happens in this department.
Loyalty and commitment are foundational to the fire service. Firefighters work in close-knit teams where trust is built over time through shared experiences, training, and reliance on one another in critical situations. If crew members were constantly looking for the next opportunity elsewhere, it would undermine the cohesion and trust that make a fire department effective. Departments invest significant time and resources into training new hires, and they need to know that investment will pay off through years of dedicated service. By committing to this department, I'm committing to being a reliable team member who will grow with the organization and contribute to its mission for the long term.
I've demonstrated this level of commitment in my previous career. When I accepted my current position, I turned down other opportunities because I believed in the organization and wanted to see my work through. Even when challenges arose, I stayed because I value following through on commitments and being someone my team can depend on. That same loyalty will define my approach as a firefighter here. If hired, I'm not just taking a job—I'm joining a family and a profession I intend to dedicate myself to. You can count on me to be here for the long haul, to invest myself fully in this department, and to be the kind of teammate who earns trust through consistent, dedicated service.