Fire Department · Career
Gallatin Fire Department
Gallatin, TN · Sumner County
The department's first paid crew of four firefighters was hired in April 1960; it has since grown to staff five fire stations.
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Department careers page ↗Gallatin Fire Department traces its roots to the city's 1815 incorporation, when fire protection was handled by local volunteers using little more than a horse-drawn wagon stabled alongside the garbage team. The department professionalized in April 1960 with the hiring of its first paid crew of four firefighters working 24-hour shifts, under Chief Joe St. Charles and firefighter Billy Deering. That small crew has grown into a five-station department that now answers thousands of calls each year across Gallatin and the surrounding shoreline of Old Hickory Lake.
Today the department delivers fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, and community risk reduction from Stations 1 through 5, and it holds a Class 2 ISO Public Protection Classification, a rating shared by fewer than 50 of Tennessee's 847 fire departments. Beyond structural firefighting, GFD operates Marine 11, a dedicated 28-foot fast-attack rescue boat covering 57 miles of shoreline on Old Hickory Lake and the Cumberland River, and maintains a volunteer Honor Guard that represents the department at ceremonies and ceremonial community events.
MissionProtect life, property, and the environment from the hazards and dangers of fire, medical emergencies, and man-made or natural disasters through prevention, education, and effective response.
Gallatin Fire Department hires firefighters through the City of Gallatin's civil-service process: an online application, written exam, physical agility test, interview panel, a final interview with the Fire Chief, and a background check, physical, and drug screening before a job offer. New hires commit to two years of service in exchange for the city covering the cost of training at the Fire and Codes Academy in Bell Buckle, Tennessee and EMT/AEMT training at Volunteer State Community College.
Requirements
- Two-year service commitment to the City in exchange for City-paid training
- Pass a written exam covering math, reading comprehension, spatial reasoning, and interpersonal skills
- Pass a physical agility test
- Pass an interview panel and a final interview with the Fire Chief
- Pass a background check, physician-administered physical, and drug screening
- Complete training at the Fire and Codes Academy (Bell Buckle, TN) and EMT/AEMT training at Volunteer State Community College
Hiring process
- Submit an online application at gallatinonthemove.com and sign up for job alert emails
- Take the written exam (math, reading comprehension, spatial reasoning, interpersonal skills)
- Pass the physical agility test
- Interview panel
- Final interview with the Fire Chief
- Background check, physical exam, and drug screening before offer
Benefits
Free health, dental, and vision insurance for the employee, a hybrid TCRS retirement plan, free life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, 12 paid sick days and 14 paid holidays annually, plus paid vacation.
Recruits train at the Fire and Codes Academy in Bell Buckle, TN, with EMT/AEMT training provided through Volunteer State Community College; the City covers training costs in exchange for a two-year service commitment.
How do I become a firefighter with Gallatin Fire Department?
Apply online at gallatinonthemove.com and sign up for job alerts, or contact City of Gallatin Human Resources at 615-451-5890. Candidates go through a written exam, a physical agility test, an interview panel, and a final interview with the Fire Chief before a background check, physical, and drug screening.
What are the requirements to join Gallatin Fire Department?
New hires commit to two years of service with the City in exchange for City-paid training at the Fire and Codes Academy in Bell Buckle, TN and EMT/AEMT training at Volunteer State Community College, and must pass a written exam, physical agility test, interviews, and a background check.
What is Gallatin Fire Department's ISO rating?
Gallatin Fire Department holds a Class 2 ISO Public Protection Classification, a rating achieved by fewer than 50 of Tennessee's 847 fire departments, which can help residents and business owners secure lower property insurance premiums.
How many calls does Gallatin Fire Department respond to each year?
The department responded to 8,237 calls for service in 2024, with an average response time of 4 minutes and 26 seconds from notification to arrival.
Does Gallatin Fire Department do water rescue?
Yes. The department operates Marine 11, a 28-foot fast-attack rescue boat with a four-person crew, covering 57 miles of shoreline on Old Hickory Lake and the Cumberland River for water rescue, firefighting, and hazmat response.