Boston Fire Department

The Boston Fire Department protects the city of Boston, responding to structure fires, vehicle accidents, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues, medical emergencies, and large-scale public events. In addition to its uniformed firefighters, the department employs more than 150 civilian staff in support roles.

Boston's fire service traces its roots back centuries: the city's first fire prevention ordinance was enacted in 1631, its first public fire department was established in 1678 under Chief Thomas Atkins, and the modern Fire Department was formally created in 1837. The department acquired its first fireboat in 1873, reflecting a long history of protecting Boston's busy waterfront.

The department serves a dense urban core that swells daily with hundreds of thousands of commuters, shoppers, and visitors beyond its resident population, giving Boston firefighters an unusually varied and high-volume workload.

Becoming a Boston firefighter runs through the Massachusetts civil service process. Candidates register on the state's careers website (governmentjobs.com/careers/massachusetts), select Boston as their preferred location, and pay a $75 exam fee. Applicants must be at least 19 at application and younger than 32 on exam day (veterans with honorable service may add three years), hold a valid Massachusetts driver's license, and be a Boston resident for at least one year before the exam, since residents receive preference. Smoking disqualifies applicants.

After the exam, candidates progress through a Physical Abilities Test, a written exam with a Work Styles Questionnaire and Life Experience survey, and a screening phase covering background check, medical evaluation, drug test, and psychological exam. New hires serve a one-year probationary period during which they earn Firefighter 1 and 2 and EMT certifications. The department also runs a new Boston Fire Cadet Program as an additional pathway into the service.