3 answers
Brayden
Student
Oak Harbor, Ohio
10
Questions
Asked
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How do fire departments choose who they want to hire?
Do they just choose random people who apply or are they skeptical about it.
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3 answers
Savanna Rose 🜲.
4
Answers
Flint, Michigan
Updated
Savanna’s Answer
Good question Brayden :)
Fire departments don’t just pick random people — it’s actually pretty competitive. Most go through a structured hiring process with written exams, physical tests, background checks, and interviews.
They look for people who are disciplined, reliable, and team-oriented, not just physically strong. They pay attention to your attitude, work ethic, and how you handle stress — because firefighting’s not just about muscle, it’s about trust under pressure.
If you’re serious about it, start building experience early — volunteer at a fire department, take EMT or fire science classes, and keep your record clean. That’ll make you stand out big time.
They’re not “skeptical,” but they do their homework — they want people they can depend on when things get real.
You got this though — if you stay focused and put in the effort, you’ll earn that badge. I’m rooting for you, dude! 🔥🚒💪🏻
- Savanna Rose
Fire departments don’t just pick random people — it’s actually pretty competitive. Most go through a structured hiring process with written exams, physical tests, background checks, and interviews.
They look for people who are disciplined, reliable, and team-oriented, not just physically strong. They pay attention to your attitude, work ethic, and how you handle stress — because firefighting’s not just about muscle, it’s about trust under pressure.
If you’re serious about it, start building experience early — volunteer at a fire department, take EMT or fire science classes, and keep your record clean. That’ll make you stand out big time.
They’re not “skeptical,” but they do their homework — they want people they can depend on when things get real.
You got this though — if you stay focused and put in the effort, you’ll earn that badge. I’m rooting for you, dude! 🔥🚒💪🏻
- Savanna Rose
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Lieutenant / EMT
117
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hello Brayden. As others have said, the level of competitiveness can vary from place to place.
Where I used to live in Illinois it was a very competitive process with a points based hiring process (i.e. 5 points for being a military veteran, 5 points for an associates degree, 10 points fo a bachelors, etc). It took my close friend 10-years of applying before he was hired by his dream department!
Here in Colorado, when I first started my career, the fire department in Fort Collins would get something like 2000 applications for 10 openings. Today there is a little more opportunity so the numbers aren't quite that high - more like 200-400 applications for 10 openings. Still very competitive.
When I decided to leave the Air Force for a firefighting career, it took my 2-years to get hired full-time, despite having military service, a bachelors degree, and over 10-years experience as a volunteer firefighter / EMT. I had some impediments I had to overcome first.
I don't say these things to discourage you: I've also seen people hired with zero experience, hired within weeks or months of starting to apply, and even had many of my students in the community college fire academy get recruited by departments right out of the academy before they even graduate. So it is possible, but yes, we are very skeptical about it. We're going to live together in the fire station for days at a time, doing one of the most emotionally difficult AND physically demanding jobs someone can have - so yes, we're always going to try and pick the best of the best.
Good luck!
Where I used to live in Illinois it was a very competitive process with a points based hiring process (i.e. 5 points for being a military veteran, 5 points for an associates degree, 10 points fo a bachelors, etc). It took my close friend 10-years of applying before he was hired by his dream department!
Here in Colorado, when I first started my career, the fire department in Fort Collins would get something like 2000 applications for 10 openings. Today there is a little more opportunity so the numbers aren't quite that high - more like 200-400 applications for 10 openings. Still very competitive.
When I decided to leave the Air Force for a firefighting career, it took my 2-years to get hired full-time, despite having military service, a bachelors degree, and over 10-years experience as a volunteer firefighter / EMT. I had some impediments I had to overcome first.
I don't say these things to discourage you: I've also seen people hired with zero experience, hired within weeks or months of starting to apply, and even had many of my students in the community college fire academy get recruited by departments right out of the academy before they even graduate. So it is possible, but yes, we are very skeptical about it. We're going to live together in the fire station for days at a time, doing one of the most emotionally difficult AND physically demanding jobs someone can have - so yes, we're always going to try and pick the best of the best.
Good luck!
Philip Gauthier
Nuclear Plant Work Week Manager
19
Answers
Prairieville, Louisiana
Updated
Philip’s Answer
This is a difficult question to answer because every State and City will likely have its own requirements/preferences for hiring.
That said, most Professional Fire Departments will require a Civil Service Exam. Often your score on this test will determine if you are hired or not. Then they would look at education/training/experience to determine which of the applicants to choose. Most firefighters do not need a college education, but they may use that to determine who they want to hire. More so than education some departments would love to see experience. A Firefighter from one town will have a pretty easy job finding a job in another town. If you do not have experience or are in high school, I recommend getting involved with an Explorer/Junior Fire Fighter program to get some*. Yes, departments will look at this as experience.
They will also have some sort of Physical fitness exam or standards. This is usually a Pass or Fail and don't believe it will affect your placement in hiring over other candidates (unless the physical test is failed).
If you wanted to be a firefighter in a certain city I would start by looking at their website for requirements.
*If there are no Junior Fire Fighting programs in your area, then I would recommend any other extracurricular (Navy Sea Cadets, Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, JROTC, Etc...).
That said, most Professional Fire Departments will require a Civil Service Exam. Often your score on this test will determine if you are hired or not. Then they would look at education/training/experience to determine which of the applicants to choose. Most firefighters do not need a college education, but they may use that to determine who they want to hire. More so than education some departments would love to see experience. A Firefighter from one town will have a pretty easy job finding a job in another town. If you do not have experience or are in high school, I recommend getting involved with an Explorer/Junior Fire Fighter program to get some*. Yes, departments will look at this as experience.
They will also have some sort of Physical fitness exam or standards. This is usually a Pass or Fail and don't believe it will affect your placement in hiring over other candidates (unless the physical test is failed).
If you wanted to be a firefighter in a certain city I would start by looking at their website for requirements.
*If there are no Junior Fire Fighting programs in your area, then I would recommend any other extracurricular (Navy Sea Cadets, Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, JROTC, Etc...).