Fire Department · Combination
Rural Metro Fire Department
Farragut, TN · Knox County
“Powered by membership, not taxes”
No active openings right now
Watch this department to be notified when Rural Metro Fire Department is hiring, or check their careers page.
Department careers page ↗Rural Metro Fire serves unincorporated Knox County, Tennessee, a role it has held since 1977 when the parent company entered the region through a joint operating agreement in the Knoxville area. Unlike most U.S. fire departments, it is funded by household and business memberships rather than taxes, operating under the slogan "Powered by membership, not taxes."
The Knox County division fields 17 stations across the county and responds to about 17,000 incidents a year, more than half of which are medical emergencies. Every firefighter is a certified EMT or paramedic, and the department also handles vehicle extrication, hazardous materials, and technical rescue.
Beyond emergency response, Rural Metro invests in community risk reduction, including home and smoke-alarm safety checks, CPR classes, and fire-education programs in Knox County schools.
The Knox County operation is part of the national Rural Metro Fire organization, founded in Arizona in 1948 as a pioneering private fire service and now part of Global Medical Response's first-response family, with operations in Arizona, Oregon, and Tennessee.
Rural Metro Fire Knox County hires firefighters who are certified EMTs or paramedics, since all field personnel respond to both fire and medical emergencies. The organization references a fire academy and an employee portal, and posts openings through the national Rural Metro / Global Medical Response careers system.
Prospective candidates apply through the company's online careers portal; specific pay, schedule, and step-by-step hiring details are not published on the department's public site.
Requirements
- Must be a certified EMT or Paramedic (all firefighters respond to medical emergencies)
The department references a fire academy for training personnel.
Do I need to be an EMT or paramedic to become a Rural Metro firefighter in Knox County?
Yes. All Rural Metro Fire firefighters in Knox County are certified EMTs or paramedics, because crews respond to both fire and medical emergencies (over half of the roughly 17,000 annual calls are medical).
How do I apply for a firefighter job with Rural Metro Fire in Knox County?
Openings are posted through Rural Metro Fire's online careers portal (part of Global Medical Response). Use the Careers link on ruralmetrofire.com to view and apply for positions.
Is there a training academy for new hires?
Yes. The department references a fire academy used to train personnel, along with an internal employee portal.
Is Rural Metro Knox County a municipal or private department?
It is a private, membership-funded fire department serving unincorporated Knox County, Tennessee, operating on the model "Powered by membership, not taxes" rather than being tax-supported.
What kinds of calls will I respond to?
Firefighters handle fire suppression, emergency medical response, vehicle accident extrication, hazardous materials incidents, and technical rescue across 17 stations covering unincorporated Knox County.