Fire Department · Career
City Of Fresno Fire Department
Fresno, CA · Fresno County
largest in California's Central Valley
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗The Fresno Fire Department serves California's fifth-largest city, protecting over 540,000 residents across the heart of the Central Valley. Established in 1877, it is one of the oldest fire departments in the United States and the largest in the region.
The department operates 20 stations and is organized into five divisions: Administration, Personnel and Investigative Services, Emergency Operations, Training, and Prevention and Support Services. Beyond structural fire suppression, it provides urban search and rescue, hazardous materials response, and aircraft firefighting.
With 371 sworn firefighters and roughly 426 total positions, Fresno Fire is a busy metropolitan agency, responding to nearly 48,000 emergency incidents in a recent year. Its work is guided by core values of teamwork, trust, and commitment.
MissionTo Protect & Put Service Above All Else
The City of Fresno recruits for firefighter trainee positions on an as-needed basis, with applications submitted through the city's GovernmentJobs portal. The path runs through a written exam, oral interview, physical agility test, a Fire Chief's interview, and an extensive background process before appointment.
Successful candidates enter a 16-week recruit academy on a 40-hour, Monday-through-Friday schedule that the department describes as physically rigorous and intellectually demanding. Minimum requirements are modest at application (high school diploma, valid driver's license, CPR), with EMT/NREMT certification required by the Fire Chief's interview.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Valid California driver's license
- Valid CPR card at application
- EMT, EMT-P, NREMT, or NREMT-P certification by the Fire Chief's interview
- At least 20 years old when applying, 21 by appointment
Hiring process
- Preparation and application
- Written exam
- Oral interview
- Physical agility test
- Fire Chief interview
- Extensive background check
- Polygraph exam
- Medical exam
16-week recruit academy on a 40-hour/week, Monday-Friday schedule; described as physically rigorous and intellectually demanding.
How do I become a Fresno firefighter?
The City of Fresno recruits for firefighter trainee positions as needed. When a recruitment opens, you apply through the city's GovernmentJobs portal and move through a written exam, oral interview, physical agility test, Fire Chief's interview, and background process.
What are the minimum requirements to apply?
You need a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid California driver's license, and a valid CPR card at application. You must be at least 20 years old when applying and 21 by appointment, and hold EMT/NREMT certification by the Fire Chief's interview.
Is EMT certification required?
Yes. EMT, EMT-P, NREMT, or NREMT-P certification is required by the time of the Fire Chief's interview.
What does the academy involve?
New firefighter trainees attend a 16-week recruit academy on a 40-hour-per-week, Monday-through-Friday schedule. The department describes it as physically rigorous and intellectually demanding.
Where do I submit my application?
Applications are submitted online through the City of Fresno careers portal at governmentjobs.com/careers/cityoffresno. Recruitments open on an as-needed basis, so check the Firefighter Recruitment page for current openings.