Fire Department · Combination
Central Taney County Fire Protection District
Kissee Mills, MO · Taney County
Led by a full-time Fire Chief with part-time district chiefs and a roster of roughly three dozen volunteer firefighters covering five stations; about 71% of Missouri fire departments are volunteer departments, per the district.
No active openings right now
Watch this department to be notified when Central Taney County Fire Protection District is hiring, or check their careers page.
Department careers page ↗Central Taney County Fire Protection District serves a 136-square-mile stretch of rural Taney County in southwest Missouri's Ozark Mountains, including the shorelines of Lake Taneycomo and Bull Shoals Lake and portions of the Mark Twain National Forest. What began in 1983 as a subscription-based service has grown into a tax-supported district running five stations from a central headquarters and training facility.
The district is overwhelmingly volunteer-driven: a full-time Fire Chief and a small part-time command staff lead a roster of volunteer firefighters, driver/operators, company officers, EMS responders, and support personnel who respond to structure and wildland fires, medical emergencies, vehicle extrications, and search and rescue calls. Because only a small fraction of the district has municipal hydrants, crews rely heavily on water shuttle and drafting operations from engines, tankers, and brush trucks staged across the coverage area.
Like many rural Missouri districts, Central Taney County has felt a squeeze between rising population and a shrinking volunteer base, and leadership has been explicit that recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters is the district's top operational priority.
MissionProudly protect lives and property by providing prompt, skillful, cost-effective fire protection, rescue, hazardous materials, and life safety services
Central Taney County Fire Protection District is a volunteer department that recruits firefighters, driver/operators, company officers, chief officers, EMS responders, public information officers, chaplains, and other support roles on an ongoing basis; paid, full-time openings are posted separately and are infrequent. The district says it is currently in critical need of volunteers to keep pace with population growth and offset recent losses in volunteer staffing.
Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Complete and submit the district's volunteer application
Hiring process
- Download the volunteer application (PDF) from the district website
- Complete and submit the application to the district office
- Contact the district at 417-546-2775 (Mon-Thu, 9am-5pm) with questions
Benefits
Volunteer firefighters receive fuel reimbursement for calls responded to.
How do I become a volunteer firefighter with Central Taney County Fire Protection District?
Download the volunteer application from the district's website, complete it, and submit it to the district office at 21060 US Highway 160, Kissee Mills, MO. You must be at least 18 years old. The district can be reached at 417-546-2775, Monday through Thursday, 9am-5pm, with questions.
Does Central Taney County Fire Protection District have paid firefighter jobs?
The district is primarily a volunteer department led by a full-time Fire Chief and part-time district chiefs. Paid, full-time openings are posted on the district's Employment Openings page when available, but the district's ongoing recruitment focus is on volunteer roles.
What volunteer roles does the district recruit for?
The district recruits volunteers for firefighter, driver/operator, company officer, chief officer, emergency medical responder, public information officer, chaplain, and general support team positions.
What area does Central Taney County Fire Protection District cover?
The district covers about 136 square miles of rural Taney County, Missouri, including Lake Taneycomo, Bull Shoals Lake, and portions of the Mark Twain National Forest, serving roughly 7,600 full-time residents plus seasonal visitors.