Fire Department · Combination
Hamden Fire Department
Hamden, CT · South Central Regional County
“We will execute with excellence!”
Hamden Fire Department serves the town of Hamden, Connecticut, covering more than 60,000 residents across roughly 33 square miles just north of New Haven. The department delivers fire suppression, advanced-life-support (ALS) emergency medical service, technical rescue, fire prevention, code enforcement, and community risk reduction.
Formally established in 1926 under Connecticut General Statutes, the department consolidated seven independent volunteer companies that had organized during the 1800s. It has operated a hybrid model ever since, pairing paid career staff with active volunteer companies. Charles Loller served as its first chief; the first motorized apparatus arrived in 1915 and EMS service began in 1938.
Today the department fields about 92 line personnel and 8 staff positions, with 23 firefighters on duty at all times operating out of five stations, including headquarters on Whitney Avenue. Specialized units include technical rescue, special operations, and a marine unit.
In 2025 the department was led by Chief Shelly L. Carter, a 20-plus-year veteran of the Hartford Fire Department and the first Black female fire chief in New England.
MissionProtect lives and property from fire and hazardous conditions through education, code enforcement, and effective emergency response.
All new hires for the career department are required to be a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic. Recruitment and civil-service testing for the Town of Hamden are handled through the town's Personnel Department.
Open positions are posted on the Town of Hamden jobs page, where candidates download the application form and follow the posted application instructions. Questions about the hiring process can be directed to the Personnel Department at 203-287-7130.
Requirements
- Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic
Hiring process
- Download the application form from the Town of Hamden jobs page
- Review the application instructions before submitting
- Submit the completed application; contact the Personnel Department at 203-287-7130 with questions
What certification do I need to be hired as a Hamden firefighter?
All new hires for the career department are required to be a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic.
Is Hamden Fire Department a career or volunteer department?
It operates a hybrid model, combining paid career staff with active volunteer companies. The career department has about 92 line personnel plus 8 staff positions.
How many firefighters are on duty at a time?
The department staffs 23 firefighters on duty at all times, operating out of five stations.
How do I apply for a job with the department?
Open positions are posted on the Town of Hamden jobs page, where you download the application form and follow the posted application instructions. Questions can be directed to the Personnel Department at 203-287-7130.
What kind of emergency work does the department do?
Beyond fire suppression, the department provides advanced-life-support (ALS) emergency medical service, technical rescue, special operations, and a marine unit, along with fire prevention and community risk reduction.