Fire Department · Career
North Metro Fire Rescue District
Broomfield, CO · Boulder County
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Department careers page ↗North Metro Fire Rescue District traces its roots to November 8, 1946, when 30 volunteers in Eastlake, Colorado formed the West Adams County Fire Protection District, later renamed North Metro Fire Rescue District. Nearly 80 years later, the district has grown into a professional all-hazards agency covering roughly 58 square miles and about 127,000 residents across the City and County of Broomfield, the City of Northglenn, and unincorporated portions of Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and Weld counties.
Today the district operates eight fire stations plus a dedicated Training Center Complex and headquarters, staffed by close to 200 professional firefighters, administrative, and support personnel. Firefighters and paramedics respond to fire suppression, hazardous materials, and technical rescue calls, but the majority of the workload is medical: over 70% of calls involve a medical emergency, and advanced life support paramedics and EMTs staff all engines and ambulances. The district also runs its own ambulance membership program, fire prevention and code compliance, and community life-safety education.
North Metro has continued to expand its capabilities, adding dedicated wildland firefighting staffing for Red Flag conditions and national deployment, and is currently constructing a permanent Station 68 in the western part of the district. In June 2024 the district's ISO/PPC rating improved to 02/2x, placing it in the top 6.5% of departments nationally for fire suppression capability.
MissionTo be a responsive all-hazard organization that works to provide a caring, high quality, professional delivery of service.
North Metro hires both entry-level and lateral firefighter/paramedics through an online application process at governmentjobs.com; candidates who clear testing and background attend the 16-week North Area Fire Academy followed by a one-year probationary period.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Valid, unrestricted driver's license
- Valid Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT) certification by the final offer date
- Colorado EMT certification upon hire
- CPR certification upon hire
Hiring process
- Research the profession; consider ride-alongs or volunteer experience
- Meet minimum requirements (HS diploma, driver's license, CPAT)
- Medical skills assessment for paramedic candidates (written test and EMS scenarios)
- General skills assessment and two interview panels plus a written exercise
- Conditional offer stage: medical/physical evaluation, drug test, background check, acrophobia/claustrophobia testing
- Final job offer upon completion of all clearances
- 16-week North Area Fire Academy training
- One-year supervised probationary period
Benefits
Firefighters are covered by a defined-benefit pension through the Fire and Police Pension Association (FPPA) plus an optional 457 plan, Cigna medical/dental/life/disability coverage, tuition assistance for college and paramedic certification, daily on-shift fitness requirements with station gym equipment and a premium HQ fitness facility, a peer support team for behavioral health, and paid holiday/leave time.
New hires attend the 16-week North Area Fire Academy, held primarily at the North Metro Fire Training Center on a four 10-hour-day weekly schedule; lateral hires may qualify for a modified academy program.
What schedule do North Metro firefighters work?
Firefighters work a 48/96 schedule: two 24-hour shifts at the fire station followed by four days off.
What are the minimum requirements to apply?
Applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid unrestricted driver's license, and a valid CPAT certification by the final offer date; a Colorado EMT certificate and CPR certification are required upon hire.
Does North Metro Fire accept lateral hires?
Yes. Lateral firefighter hires are accepted and may qualify for a modified, shortened fire academy program based on prior experience.
What does new-hire training look like?
New hires attend the 16-week North Area Fire Academy, held primarily at the North Metro Fire Training Center, followed by a one-year supervised probationary period.
What is North Metro's current ISO rating?
As of June 1, 2024, the district's ISO/PPC rating is 02/2x, an improvement from its previous 04/4x rating and placing it in the top 6.5% of departments nationally for fire suppression capability.