Fire Department · Combination
Sumter County Fire Department
Sumter, SC · Sumter County
“The Desire to Serve. The Ability to Perform. The Courage to Act.”
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Department careers page ↗The Sumter Fire Department protects life, property, and the environment across the City of Sumter and surrounding Sumter County in central South Carolina. Its roots reach back to the spring of 1856, when the town's first hand-pumped engine arrived and young townsmen formed the earliest volunteer companies.
Today the department is a large combination organization made up of twenty-one stations: five full-time paid city stations and sixteen county volunteer stations. It is staffed by 108 paid members and over 200 volunteers, reflecting a blended career-and-volunteer model that covers both the urban core and outlying rural areas.
The department holds an ISO Class 1 rating, the highest possible Public Protection Classification from the Insurance Services Office. Headquarters at 315 N. Lafayette Drive also houses a fire museum, home to a 1908 LaFrance steam engine, underscoring the department's long institutional history.
MissionDedicated to protecting life, property, and the environment for the citizens of Sumter; by providing emergency response, regulatory compliance, and community education.
Sumter Fire Department actively recruits firefighters to fill existing and newly created positions. Prospective candidates submit an employment application through the City of Sumter's HR portal and then contact the Fire Department; qualified applicants are contacted as positions become available.
New hires attend the department's Recruit Firefighter school, which runs twice a year beginning in January and July at the training facility at 470 McCrays Mill Road. The department also runs a Fire Explorers program (with the Boy Scouts of America, Pee Dee Area Council) as a pathway toward volunteer or career firefighting.
Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Must be in good health and able to pass an OSHA physical
- Must be able to pass a S.L.E.D. background check
- Must be able to perform under extreme conditions
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license and a 10-year certified driving record from each state
- Certified criminal history report from each state of residence
Hiring process
- Submit an employment application through the City of Sumter HR portal
- Provide required documentation (diploma/GED, birth certificate, driver's license, driving record, criminal history, and other applicable records)
- Contact the Fire Department for consideration
- Qualified candidates are contacted as positions become available
- Selected recruits attend the Recruit Firefighter school (January or July)
The department holds a Recruit Firefighter school twice a year, beginning in January and July, at its training facility at 470 McCrays Mill Road.
What are the minimum requirements to become a firefighter in Sumter?
You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen, in good health and able to pass an OSHA physical, able to pass a S.L.E.D. background check, and able to perform under extreme conditions. A high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license are also required.
How do I apply?
Submit an employment application through the City of Sumter HR portal at sumtersc.gov/hr/apply, then contact the Fire Department. Qualified candidates are contacted as positions become available.
Is the department currently hiring?
Yes. The Sumter Fire Department actively recruits firefighters to fill existing and new positions and contacts qualified candidates as openings arise.
Is there a training academy for new recruits?
Yes. The department runs a Recruit Firefighter school twice a year, beginning in January and July, at its training facility at 470 McCrays Mill Road.
What documents do I need to provide when applying?
Applicants must provide a high school diploma or GED, birth certificate, driver's license, a 10-year certified driving record from each state, a certified criminal history report from each state of residence, and, if applicable, a DD214, naturalization papers, proof of name change, and Social Security card.
Is there a way to get involved before becoming a firefighter?
Yes. The Fire Explorers program, run with the Boy Scouts of America (Pee Dee Area Council), is designed to help participants move toward becoming a volunteer or career firefighter.