Huh ... I've heard of that as a "public records" check, but never as an "open" background. But, I suppose terms can vary.
I do peace officer backgrounds and this can entail the same level of scrutiny that you would refer to as a "closed" background. The fire department would fall into what you might term an "open" background, though it would also require a criminal offender record and child abuse search through state and FBI databases.

