Fire Department · Combination
Payson Fire Department
Payson, AZ · Gila County
31 full-time firefighters plus roughly 7-12 paid reserve firefighters (combination department); year-round service population of about 20,000, rising to roughly 28,000 in summer.
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗Payson Fire Department traces back to 1946, when local citizens organized a volunteer fire department and, in the 1950s, formed an official fire district. The Town of Payson incorporated in 1976 and absorbed the district as a municipal fire department, hiring its first paid chief that year. Growth continued through the following decades: an assistant chief in 1980, the first paid shift personnel in 1983, paramedic-level EMS capability in 1986, a second station in 2000, a third station in 2011, and a federal SAFER grant in 2012 that temporarily added six firefighters to bring engine staffing back to three-person crews.
Today PFD is a combination department — full-time career firefighters working alongside paid reserve firefighters who staff shifts on the engines. It delivers fire suppression, paramedic-level emergency medical care, technical rescue, wildland firefighting, hazardous materials response, and fire prevention/public education around the clock, year-round. Coverage extends beyond Town limits to contracted service areas, the Tonto Apache Reservation, and dozens of miles of Arizona state highway, with call volume that swells during Payson's busy summer tourist season.
The reserve firefighter program is the department's primary pipeline into career positions: most PFD career firefighters started as reserves, building hands-on experience and training before testing for full-time openings.
MissionOur mission is to safely minimize the loss of life and property resulting from fire, medical emergencies, and other disasters through prevention, education, preparedness, and response.
Payson Fire Department hires almost all of its career firefighters up through the reserve firefighter program rather than filling career vacancies directly from outside applicants. Reserve firefighters are part-time, hourly employees who pick up 12- and 24-hour shifts on an engine (targeting about 40 hours/month), and applications for the reserve program are accepted year-round and kept on file for a year. When career Firefighter/EMT or Firefighter/Paramedic vacancies open, the Town posts them through Town of Payson Human Resources, and hiring runs through the FireTEAM written exam (National Testing Network), a CPAT, a department application/personal history questionnaire, and an interview panel.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old
- U.S. citizen, legally eligible to work in the U.S.
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid Arizona driver's license (or able to obtain one by hire) with an acceptable driving record
- Arizona Firefighter I & II certification (AZ, Pro Board, or IFSAC) for career positions
- Current Arizona Department of Health Services EMT or Paramedic certification
- No felony convictions or disqualifying criminal history within the past 7 years
- Able to meet OSHA SCBA-use requirements and pass an NFPA 1582 firefighter medical evaluation
- Able to pass a background check including fingerprinting
Hiring process
- Submit a completed Town of Payson employment application to the Fire Department or Human Resources
- Complete the FireTEAM written exam through the National Testing Network (nationaltestingnetwork.com)
- Provide proof of a passed CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) within six months of the application deadline
- Top-scoring candidates are invited to an interview panel
- New hires complete an 8-10 week paid intern/orientation academy covering firefighting, EMS, and department operations before full assignment
New reserve/recruit firefighters complete an 8-10 week paid orientation academy (roughly 0800-1700 daily) covering firefighting, EMS operations, and department procedures before being released to shift duty.
How do I become a firefighter with Payson Fire Department?
Most PFD career firefighters start out as paid reserve firefighters, working shifts on an engine to build experience, before testing for a full-time Firefighter/EMT or Firefighter/Paramedic position when one opens. Career openings are posted through Town of Payson Human Resources and require the FireTEAM written exam, a CPAT, and an interview panel.
What are the minimum requirements to apply to Payson Fire Department?
Applicants must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen legally eligible to work, hold a high school diploma or GED, have a valid Arizona driver's license with a clean record, and pass a background check. Career positions also require Arizona Firefighter I & II certification and a current Arizona EMT or Paramedic certification.
Does Payson Fire Department hire firefighter/paramedics?
Yes. In addition to Firefighter/EMT positions, PFD hires Firefighter/Paramedic recruits, and a current Arizona Department of Health Services EMT or Paramedic certification satisfies the medical certification requirement for both career and reserve applicants.
Can I apply to Payson Fire Department's reserve firefighter program anytime?
Yes. Applications for the reserve firefighter program are accepted at Fire Station 11 (400 W. Main St., Payson) throughout the year and are kept on file for one year.
Where are Payson Fire Department's fire stations located?
PFD operates three stations: Station 11 at 400 W. Main St. (headquarters), Station 12 at 108 E. Rancho Rd., and Station 13 at 103 S. Rim Club Pkwy., all in Payson, AZ.