Fire Department · Career
Norman Fire Department
Norman, OK · Cleveland County
Fleet includes eight engine companies, two ladder companies, one squad, one heavy rescue unit, two boats, a regional hazardous materials unit, and brush pumpers stationed at each of the nine houses.
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Department careers page ↗Norman Fire Department traces its roots to 1894, when it began as a volunteer department before becoming the full-time career agency that protects Norman today. The department now operates nine fire stations covering about 195 square miles of Cleveland County, serving a population of roughly 120,000 residents, businesses, and visitors, backed by a fleet that includes eight engine companies, two ladder companies, a squad, a heavy rescue unit, two boats, and a regional hazardous materials unit.
NFD is organized into Suppression, Emergency Medical Services, Prevention & Investigation, Training, Special Operations, and Administration divisions, giving it in-house capability across fire suppression, EMS response, hazardous materials mitigation, and technical rescue. The department also maintains a dedicated fire investigation building, an administration building, and a training center at Fire Station 7, reflecting a career-length focus on both incident response and firefighter development.
With about 164 employees, the department recruits through a structured, cyclical hiring process that includes a written exam, physical agility test, oral boards, chief's interviews, background investigation, and a fire academy at its Goddard Avenue training center before new hires are assigned to a station.
MissionThe Norman Fire Department is committed to the preservation of life and property by providing quality and efficient services to our citizens, businesses and visitors.
Norman Fire Department hires firefighter recruits through a periodic recruitment cycle (application windows are announced, e.g. June-July 2025) rather than continuous open enrollment. Selected candidates attend a 12-to-24-week academy at the department's training center; lateral transfers from other departments are not accepted, so every recruit goes through the full academy.
Requirements
- Minimum age 18; maximum age 45 (waived for prior Oklahoma Firefighter Pension System members)
- High school diploma or GED
- National EMT certification by a specified pre-recruitment deadline
- Valid driver's license (out-of-state applicants must obtain an Oklahoma license)
- No felony convictions
- Acceptable driving record (disqualifying: 2+ DUI/DWI/DUID convictions in 10 years, a DUI charge within 3 years, reckless driving/racing conviction within 3 years, or 5+ traffic citations in 6 years)
- City residency is not required
Hiring process
- Written exam
- Physical agility test
- Oral board interviews
- Chief's interviews
- Background investigation
- Conditional job offer
- Pension-required physical
- Final offer
- Fire academy (12-24 weeks) at the Norman Training Center
Benefits
Group health and dental insurance, life insurance, tuition assistance, a college-incentive monthly stipend for degree holders, HazMat and Rescue Tech specialty pay, retirement/pension benefits, 13 paid holidays, and accruing sick and vacation leave that increases with tenure (14-22 vacation hours/month depending on years of service, 16 sick hours/month).
New hires attend a 12-to-24-week fire academy at the Norman Training Center (2207 Goddard Avenue, also home to Fire Station 7) before assignment.
How many fire stations does Norman Fire Department operate?
Norman Fire Department operates nine fire stations covering about 195 square miles of Cleveland County and serving a population of roughly 120,000.
Are lateral transfers accepted at Norman Fire Department?
No. All new hires, regardless of prior firefighting experience, must complete the department's 12-to-24-week fire academy.
What is the starting salary for a Norman firefighter recruit?
The 2025 starting salary was $56,262 per year, with additional monthly incentive pay available for a college degree, HazMat certification, and Rescue Tech qualification.
What is the hiring process for Norman Fire Department?
Candidates go through a written exam, physical agility test, oral board interviews, chief's interviews, a background investigation, a conditional offer, a pension-required physical, and a final offer, followed by the fire academy.
What is the age requirement to apply?
Applicants must be between 18 and 45 years old, though the maximum age is waived for prior members of the Oklahoma Firefighter Pension System.