Fire Department · Career
Gulfport Fire Department
Gulfport, MS · Harrison County
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Department careers page ↗Gulfport Fire Department traces its roots to 1902, when the Board of Aldermen formally organized the city's firefighting effort out of four independent volunteer companies. A destructive 1906 fire pushed the city to invest in a central firehouse and horse-drawn apparatus, and the department motorized in 1915 with its first engine, a Boyd Chemical rig. Growth tracked the city's own expansion: by 1975 GFD had grown to roughly ninety firefighters across seven stations, and a 1993 annexation that added 33 square miles to Gulfport brought five more stations into the system.
Today the department operates 11 stations with 165 firefighters and carries a Class 2 rating from the Mississippi State Rating Bureau. Beyond structural fire suppression, GFD runs a maritime firefighting capability, Advanced Life Support EMS response, a tactical medic program, hazmat/CBRNE response, UAV operations, technical and search-and-rescue, and dive rescue and recovery, and it serves as a major participating agency on the Mississippi Task Force (MTF) urban search-and-rescue team. A Fire Prevention Bureau (established in 1953) handles inspections, plan review, fire investigation, and community education, and the department fields a Honor Guard/Pipes & Drums Corps that has represented Gulfport at fallen-firefighter memorials nationwide.
MissionWith a constant focus on excellence, and dedication to customer service, the Gulfport Fire Department will continue to be innovators in the industry while providing world class emergency services to our citizens.
Gulfport hires firefighters through a civil service process administered jointly with the city HR department. Openings are posted on the city's online job portal, and candidates sit for a standing monthly Firefighter Civil Service Exam rather than applying only when a single posting opens.
Hiring process
- Apply online through the City of Gulfport's job portal (city-of-gulfport.breezy.hr)
- Sit for the Firefighter Civil Service Exam, administered on the third Tuesday of every month at 2220 15th Street, Gulfport, MS 39501
Benefits
City of Gulfport employees can access three tiers of medical coverage, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, critical illness coverage, hospital indemnity, an Employee Assistance Program, tuition reimbursement, and dependent care reimbursement.
How many fire stations does Gulfport Fire Department operate?
GFD operates 11 fire stations strategically located throughout Gulfport, staffed by 165 firefighters.
What is Gulfport Fire Department's fire rating?
The department holds a Class 2 rating from the Mississippi State Rating Bureau.
How do I apply to become a Gulfport firefighter?
Applications are submitted through the City of Gulfport's online job portal, and candidates must sit for the Firefighter Civil Service Exam, held on the third Tuesday of every month at 2220 15th Street, Gulfport, MS.
What specialty response capabilities does GFD provide?
In addition to structural and maritime fire suppression, GFD provides ALS EMS, tactical medic response, hazmat/CBRNE response, UAV operations, technical and search-and-rescue, and dive rescue and recovery, and serves as a major participating agency on the Mississippi Task Force.
When was Gulfport Fire Department founded?
The department was established in 1902 by an ordinance of the Board of Aldermen, growing out of four independent volunteer fire companies.