Fire Department · Combination
Travis County Emergency Services District #1
Lago Vista, TX · Travis County
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗Travis County Emergency Services District 1 provides fire, rescue, and advanced life support EMS across roughly 178 square miles of northwest Travis County, including the cities of Lago Vista, Jonestown, and Point Venture along the shores of Lake Travis. The district traces its current form to a 2005 voter-approved merger of the original ESD 1 (built around Lago Vista Fire) with ESD 7, which itself had consolidated the former North Shore Fire & Rescue and Sandy Creek Fire Department volunteer agencies in 2003. That history of consolidation left the district responsible for a wide, largely unincorporated service area with more than 40 miles of Lake Travis shoreline.
Today TCESD1 operates as a fully career department staffed by Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/Paramedics delivering advanced life support out of nine stations spread across Lago Vista, Jonestown, Point Venture, and parts of Leander and Marble Falls. Crews work a 48-hour on, 96-hour off shift schedule. The district also runs its own accredited Fire Academy, training entry-level firefighters to Texas Commission on Fire Protection standards as a direct pipeline into district hiring.
TCESD1 accepts firefighter applications on a continuous basis rather than around discrete posting windows — candidates who complete the process are placed on an eligibility list and the Fire Chief extends conditional offers to top-ranked candidates as vacancies open. The department hires both Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/Paramedics and also operates its own in-house Fire Academy as an entry path for candidates without prior certification.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Minimum age 18
- U.S. work authorization; able to read and write English
- Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) Firefighter certification at hire, or within 1 year depending on position
- Texas DSHS EMT-Paramedic certification at hire, or within 1 year depending on position
- Valid Texas Class B driver's license, or within 1 year depending on position
- Must pass a physical fitness program and Physical Agility Test (CPAT)
- Able to work rotating shifts with reliable attendance
- Must remain tobacco-free for the duration of employment
Hiring process
- Submit application (accepted at any time)
- Pre-employment testing (up to 8 hours, begins 8:30am)
- Background investigation and psychological evaluation
- Interview with a hiring board
- Placement on eligibility list; conditional offer from Fire Chief as vacancies arise
- Drug screening, medical exam, and tobacco-free commitment before final offer
Benefits
TCESD1 pays 100% of employee medical, dental, and vision premiums (50% for dependents), and participates in the Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) with a 2:1 employer match at 7% and 8-year vesting, plus an optional 457(b) supplemental plan. Employees get 10 paid holidays (1.5x pay if worked), accruing vacation and sick leave, short-term disability and basic life insurance, an annual NFPA 1582 physical, a fitness/wellness program, an Employee Assistance Program, and longevity pay. Certification and education pay can add up to $55,000 annually on top of base salary.
TCESD1 runs its own 15-week Fire Academy (13 weeks online, 2 weeks hands-on) following Texas Commission on Fire Protection standards, training entry-level firefighter candidates as a pipeline into district hiring; cost is $2,750.
How do I apply to become a firefighter with Travis County ESD 1?
Applications are accepted at any time through the district's recruitment portal — you don't need to wait for a specific job posting to apply.
How long does my application stay active?
An application remains active for one year from the date you complete all stages of the hiring process. After that, you must reapply.
What happens after I pass pre-employment testing?
Candidates undergo an extensive background investigation and psychological evaluation, and those who pass both are invited to interview with a hiring board.
What happens after the interview and background check?
Successful candidates are placed on an eligibility list. As vacancies occur, the Fire Chief extends conditional offers to qualified candidates, starting with the top-ranked applicants.
Does Travis County ESD 1 require firefighter certification before hire?
TCFP Firefighter certification, EMT-Paramedic certification, and a Texas Class B driver's license are required at hire, or within one year depending on the position — candidates without certification can train through the district's own Fire Academy.