Fire Department · Combination
Christiana Fire Company
Christiana, DE · New Castle County
Describes itself as 'Delaware's Busiest' fire company; staffing includes 35 full-time and 30 part-time employees plus volunteer members, covering major highways (I-95, DE Route 1, Route 40) and the state's largest hospital and shopping mall.
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗Christiana Fire Company has protected the Christiana, Delaware area since its founding in 1921, when twenty local men organized to bring fire protection to the community. Over the past century the company grew from a single volunteer engine house into a combination department that now runs three stations, a fleet of engines, ladders, and ambulances, and both career and volunteer personnel.
Today the company covers 36 square miles of the first-due fire district, an area that includes Interstate 95, Delaware Route 1, and Route 40, along with the state's largest hospital and shopping mall. The department maintains automatic mutual aid agreements with eight neighboring districts and responds to more than 17,000 fire, EMS, and rescue incidents each year, a call volume the company says makes it Delaware's busiest.
Staffing is a mix of full-time career firefighter/EMTs, part-time EMTs, and volunteer members who respond alongside them, reflecting the department's combination-company structure and its long-running volunteer recruitment pipeline through the Delaware State Fire School.
Christiana Fire Company recruits both volunteer and paid staff. Volunteers with no prior fire service background attend the Delaware State Fire School for Firefighter I and II certification at no cost, then complete the company's in-house Engine Operations Class. Applicants who already hold Firefighter I and CPR certification can apply directly as pre-qualified members after completing observational ride-alongs. Full-time career firefighter/EMT positions are posted on the website and social media only when openings exist, while part-time EMS positions are accepted on a continuous basis.
Requirements
- No prior fire service experience required for volunteer applicants
- No residency requirement
- Firefighter I certification and current CPR certification required for pre-qualified/direct-entry applicants
- Background check and prior training records required for pre-qualified applicants
- Three observational ride-alongs required before applying (pre-qualified applicants)
Hiring process
- Email recruitment@christianafc.org with name and phone number to begin the process or schedule a ride-along
- Pre-qualified applicants (Firefighter I + CPR) complete three observational ride-alongs, scheduled in advance between 9am and 9pm
- Submit a completed application, background check, and prior training records
- Applicants without certification attend the Delaware State Fire School for Firefighter I and II certification, offered in a standard format (two weeknights plus alternating weekends, 3-4 months) or an accelerated summer format (weekdays 8am-5pm, 4-5 weeks)
- Complete the company's in-house Engine Operations Class after certification
- Full-time career openings are announced on the website and social media; part-time EMS applications are accepted continuously via a downloadable PDF application
New volunteer members attend the Delaware State Fire School for Firefighter I and II certification at no cost, either in a standard evening/weekend format over 3-4 months or an accelerated summer format over 4-5 weeks, followed by an in-house Engine Operations Class.
How do I become a firefighter with Christiana Fire Company?
Christiana Fire Company accepts volunteer applicants with no prior fire service experience, who attend the Delaware State Fire School for Firefighter I and II certification at no cost, then complete an in-house Engine Operations Class. Applicants who already hold Firefighter I and CPR certification can apply directly as pre-qualified members after completing observational ride-alongs and a background check.
Does Christiana Fire Company hire career/paid firefighters?
Yes. The company employs 35 full-time and 30 part-time firefighter/EMTs and EMTs. Full-time career openings are posted on the website and social media only when available, while part-time EMS positions accept applications continuously.
Does Christiana Fire Company accept lateral transfers?
Yes, applicants who already hold Firefighter I certification and current CPR can apply as pre-qualified members after completing three observational ride-alongs and submitting a background check and training records.
What is the work schedule for full-time firefighters?
Full-time career staff work a 4-platoon system with 24-hour shifts followed by 72 hours off; part-time EMS staff work 12-hour day and night shifts.
What training does Christiana Fire Company require for new volunteers?
New volunteers without certification attend the Delaware State Fire School for Firefighter I and II certification at no cost, offered in a standard 3-4 month evening/weekend format or an accelerated 4-5 week summer format, followed by the company's in-house Engine Operations Class.