Fire Department · Career
Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical
Lawrence, KS · Douglas County
No active openings right now
Watch this department to be notified when Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical is hiring, or check their careers page.
Department careers page ↗LDCFM traces its roots to an 1859 volunteer engine company that disbanded during the Civil War before Lawrence stood up a full-time municipal fire department in 1915 with ten members. The department added emergency medical response in 1950, and in 1997 it consolidated with Douglas County Ambulance Service to form the current combined fire-medical agency, which now answers nearly 12,000 calls a year.
Today LDCFM operates from seven stations plus two support facilities, staffed by roughly 164 personnel, covering the city of Lawrence, the University of Kansas, and Haskell Indian Nations University. Beyond fire suppression and EMS transport (which the department says makes up 75-80% of call volume), crews handle hazardous materials response, fire prevention inspections, sprinkler-system review, burn permits, and public education programs including station tours and business fire drills.
In 2015 the department marked its 100th anniversary as a municipal agency and achieved an ISO Class 1 rating, putting it among a small group of internationally accredited fire agencies with that distinction. Firefighters work 24-hour shifts under a rotating 'Berkley System,' while administrative staff work standard 40-hour weeks.
MissionWe are committed to saving and protecting lives and property through service to our community.
LDCFM is not currently hiring firefighters. The department encourages interested candidates to sign up for its 'Stay Connected with LDCFM' hiring alerts form to be notified when firefighter positions open, and recommends community college EMT & fire science coursework to prepare.
Requirements
- Online application with resume, cover letter, and three professional references
- Valid driver's license (driving history reviewed)
- Current, valid Kansas EMT or Paramedic certification, or National Registry equivalent
- Valid CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) certificate at time of application closure, valid one year from issue date
- Background check, drug screening, and physical examination per NFPA 1582 standards after a contingent offer
- Signed non-smoking agreement
Hiring process
- Application prescreening by HR and LDCFM officers
- General aptitude test
- Candidate interview and written exercise before an interview board
- Background and reference checks
- Interview with the Fire Chief
- Post-offer physical evaluation and drug screening per NFPA 1582
- Final offer or placement on a one-year eligibility list
Department recommends completing community college EMT & fire science coursework to prepare for a firefighter career
What is LDCFM's mission?
"We are committed to saving and protecting lives and property through service to our community."
Is Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical currently hiring?
The department states it is not currently hiring firefighters, but candidates can sign up for its hiring alerts form to be notified when positions open.
How many stations does LDCFM operate?
Seven fire stations plus two support facilities, serving Lawrence, the University of Kansas, and Haskell Indian Nations University.
What is the firefighter hiring process?
A seven-step process: application prescreening, a general aptitude test, an interview and written exercise, background/reference checks, a Fire Chief interview, a post-offer physical evaluation, and a final offer or one-year eligibility list placement.
What schedule do LDCFM firefighters work?
Operations personnel work 24-hour shifts under a rotating 'Berkley System' averaging 56 hours per week; administrative staff work a standard 40-hour week.