Fire Department · Career
Kinston Department Of Fire & Rescue
Kinston, NC · Lenoir County
The Kinston Department of Fire & Rescue serves the city of Kinston in Lenoir County, eastern North Carolina, from three fire stations. Its headquarters (Station 1) sits at 401 E Vernon Avenue downtown, with Station 2 on Carey Road and Station 3 on Hillfarm Road, all built between 2008 and 2010.
The department is led by Fire Chief Chad Jackson, who joined the service in 2003 and was promoted to chief in October 2024, alongside Deputy Chief Jason Lee and a small administrative and training command staff.
Training is a defining feature: the department logs roughly twelve to sixteen thousand training hours each year, and first-year recruits receive well over 240 hours of instruction, making it a place where a motivated newcomer can build a career from the ground up.
Kinston hires at the entry level and welcomes candidates who are at least 19 with a high school diploma or GED and a valid North Carolina driver's license. The department encourages, but does not require, existing NC Firefighter I/II and HazMat Operations certifications; recruits must obtain NC Medical Responder certification within their first year.
To start, complete the "Kinston Department of Fire and Rescue Employment Interest Form" on the department website. A representative will reach out to arrange a station visit and talk through opportunities before you apply through City of Kinston Human Resources, pass the Fitness Entry Aptitude Test (FEAT), clear a background check, and complete an interview.
Requirements
- Minimum age of 19
- High school diploma, equivalency, or GED
- Valid North Carolina driver's license (able to obtain a Class B license within the first year)
- Complete the online application through City of Kinston Human Resources
- Pass the Fitness Entry Aptitude Test (FEAT)
- Successfully complete the interview process
- Clear background check from your most recent county/city of residence
- Obtain North Carolina Medical Responder certification within the first year of employment
Hiring process
- Complete the Kinston Department of Fire and Rescue Employment Interest Form on the department website
- A department representative contacts you to schedule a station visit and discuss opportunities
- Submit the online application through City of Kinston Human Resources
- Pass the Fitness Entry Aptitude Test (FEAT)
- Complete the interview process
- Clear a background check from your most recent county/city of residence
The department provides comprehensive training, logging roughly 12,000 to 16,000 hours annually. New recruits receive well over 240 hours of training in their first year. NC Firefighter I/II and HazMat Operations Level I certifications are encouraged but not required at hire.
What are the basic requirements to become a Kinston firefighter?
You must be at least 19 years old, have a high school diploma, equivalency, or GED, and hold a valid North Carolina driver's license with the ability to obtain a Class B license within your first year.
Do I need to be certified before applying?
No. NC Firefighter Level I/II and HazMat Operations Level I certifications are encouraged but not required at hire. You must, however, obtain North Carolina Medical Responder certification within your first year of employment.
How do I apply?
Complete the Kinston Department of Fire and Rescue Employment Interest Form on the department website. A representative will contact you to schedule a station visit and discuss opportunities, after which you apply online through City of Kinston Human Resources.
What does the hiring process involve?
After submitting the online application you must pass the Fitness Entry Aptitude Test (FEAT), complete an interview, and clear a background check from your most recent county or city of residence.
How much training will I receive as a new recruit?
The department logs roughly 12,000 to 16,000 training hours a year, and new recruits receive well over 240 hours of training in their first year.