Fire Department · Career
Goshen Fire Department
Goshen, IN · Elkhart County
More than 70 personnel; fleet includes three pumpers, a ladder truck, a reserve pumper, a rescue truck, and a boat.
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗Goshen Fire Department traces its roots to December 4, 1862, when fifty volunteers formed the Reliance German Fire Company #1 after a series of destructive autumn fires, pooling funds to buy the city's first hand pump and hose carts. The department transitioned to paid staffing in 1906 with the opening of Central Station and four full-time firefighters, moved to a two-platoon system in 1922, and has continued to grow its station footprint and apparatus fleet through the 20th century, including the 1996 opening of Reliance Memorial Fire Station, home to the state's first paramedic engine company.
Today the department operates three fire stations plus a regional training facility, staffing over 70 personnel who respond to more than 6,000 emergency calls annually with a fleet that includes three pumpers, a ladder truck, a reserve pumper, a rescue truck, and a boat. Beyond emergency response, the department runs fire prevention and code enforcement, a Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program, CPR and extinguisher training, station tours, and the RedHawk Fire Academy, a partnership with Goshen Community Schools.
MissionTo positively impact the community through service, guided by the core values of integrity, courage, service, and legacy.
Goshen Fire Department hires through an annual testing cycle that builds a ranked hiring pool for the following year; the 2026 application window is currently closed. Candidates progress through physical agility testing, a written exam, and an oral interview before the Fire Chief and pension board.
Requirements
- Must be at least 21 years old by date of hire (2026 cycle)
- High school diploma or GED required
- Ages 21-40, or a current member of the 1977 Pension Fund
- Must pass E-Verify employment eligibility confirmation
Hiring process
- Annual testing cycle opens and builds a hiring pool for the following year; applicants notified by email
- Physical agility test evaluating strength and endurance (helmet, 50 lb weight vest, gear; 9 stations within 14 minutes, plus an untimed 75-foot ladder climb)
- Written examination
- Comprehensive oral interview before the Fire Chief and pension board members, with candidates ranked by point system; hiring from the pool occurs the following year
How many fire stations does Goshen Fire Department operate?
Three operational stations — Central Station, College Avenue Station, and Reliance Road Station — plus the Chief Danny Sink Regional Training Facility.
Is Goshen Fire Department currently hiring?
The application window for the 2026 hiring cycle is closed. The department uses an annual testing cycle that builds a ranked hiring pool for the following year.
When was Goshen Fire Department founded?
It was founded on December 4, 1862 as the all-volunteer Reliance German Fire Company #1, before transitioning to paid staff in 1906.
What does the physical agility test involve?
Candidates wear a helmet, 50 lb weight vest, and gear while completing 9 stations within 14 minutes, finishing with an untimed 75-foot ladder climb.
What EMS services does the department provide?
The department runs a Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program and operates a paramedic engine company, a role Engine 4 pioneered as the first of its kind in Indiana when Reliance Memorial Fire Station opened in 1996.