Fire Department · Career
Paulding County Fire/ Rescue
Dallas, GA · Paulding County
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗Paulding County Fire & Rescue has served the county since 1980, growing into a fully career department of over 220 paid professional staff operating out of 14 fire stations across the county. The department is organized into Administration, Operations, Support Services, Inspections, and Fire Safety & Education divisions, with the Operations Division split into three geographic battalions (north, central, and south), each led by a Battalion Chief under a Deputy Chief and three Division Chiefs.
Crews respond to more than 19,000 calls a year and provide fire suppression, rescue, hazardous materials response, and technical rescue capability alongside firefighters cross-trained as paramedics and EMTs. A dedicated Fire Safety & Education program partners with schools and community groups on prevention outreach, using resources from the U.S. Fire Administration, Firewise, Sparky, and Safe Kids.
The department maintains its own recruitment site, joinpauldingfire.com, to run hiring for its paid academy classes, and offers a lateral track for already-certified applicants who complete an abbreviated orientation rather than the full academy.
MissionTo serve the community of Paulding County by protecting life, property, and the environment through professional emergency response, prevention, and public service.
Paulding County Fire & Rescue hires through a paid training academy for entry-level candidates with no prior firefighting experience, and offers an abbreviated orientation track for already-certified lateral applicants. Hiring runs through the department's own recruitment site, joinpauldingfire.com, which links out to the county's official application portal.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent
- At least 18 years old
- Valid Georgia driver's license (or ability to obtain one)
- Physically capable of performing firefighting duties
- No prior firefighting experience required for entry-level hires
- Must meet NFPA and Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Act requirements
Hiring process
- Application review (HR verifies minimum requirements)
- Panel interview with department leadership
- Physical Agility Test (PAT)
- Background check, drug screen, and medical/physical exam
- Paid training academy or orientation to earn certifications
Benefits
Health, dental, and vision insurance; county defined-benefit retirement plan using a "Rule of 80" (years of service plus age, minimum age 55); paid vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay; overtime opportunities; professional development and advancement opportunities.
New hires attend a paid training academy to earn required certifications; certified lateral applicants instead complete an abbreviated orientation program.
Do I need prior firefighting experience to apply?
No. Entry-level candidates with no prior firefighting experience are accepted and attend a paid training academy to earn their certifications.
What is the hiring process?
Application review, a panel interview with department leadership, a Physical Agility Test, background check and medical exam, then the paid academy or orientation.
Does the department accept lateral transfers?
Yes. Certified and NPQ-qualified applicants can complete an abbreviated orientation program instead of the full academy, with pay based on their qualifications.
How many stations does Paulding County Fire & Rescue operate?
14 fire stations across the county, organized into three geographic battalions (north, central, and south).