Fire Department · Career
Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2
Pflugerville, TX · Travis County
Operates nine fire stations spanning Pflugerville, Wells Branch, and unincorporated Travis County, including a satellite facility in Coupland with a dozer and the Starflight helicopter helibase; logged 69,336 staff training hours in 2024.
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Department careers page ↗Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2, operating as the Pflugerville Fire Department, traces its roots to informal bucket brigades organized around Steger's Store before formally chartering as the Pflugerville Volunteer Fire Department in 1955, when the young department purchased its first fire truck for $4,000. A devastating downtown structure fire on July 21, 1971 exposed gaps in local water supply and equipment, pushing voters in 1985 to approve conversion to a rural fire prevention district, which was later reorganized into the current Emergency Services District model.
Today the District runs nine fire stations, including a dedicated apparatus facility in Coupland housing a dozer and the Starflight helicopter helibase, across a service area that covers Pflugerville, Wells Branch, and surrounding unincorporated Travis County. The District holds an ISO Class 1 rating, answered 13,744 calls for service in 2024, and logged 69,336 hours of staff training. Since 2017 the department has run its own ambulance service with paramedics staffed out of its stations, reflecting that roughly 70 percent of its 911 call volume is medical in nature.
The District is governed by a volunteer Board of Emergency Commissioners appointed by the Travis County Commissioners Court and funded by a capped property tax rate along with sales tax revenue, distinguishing it from a traditional city fire department while it delivers the same fire suppression, prevention, and emergency medical response services to its community.
Pflugerville Fire Department hires through a Fire Recruit (FF/EMT-Paramedic) pathway and a certification-free Fire Cadet pathway, both administered through the District's online employment application and a five-phase selection process culminating in a panel oral board interview and full background/medical screening.
Requirements
- At least 18 years of age by date of hire
- U.S. high school diploma or equivalent, or G.E.D.
- Valid state-issued driver's license (must obtain a Texas Class B license after hire)
- Current TCFP Basic Firefighter certification or higher (Recruit position; not required for Fire Cadet)
- Current DSHS- or NREMT-issued EMT-Basic certification or higher (Recruit position; not required for Fire Cadet)
- Eligible to work in the United States
- Able to read, write, and speak English
- Valid Social Security card
Hiring process
- Submit the District Employment Application with required certifications, driver's license, and educational documents by the posted deadline
- Written exam covering reading comprehension, math, and listening comprehension, with a minimum score of 70 on each section
- Physical Fitness Assessment (pushups, side plank holds, 5000m bike test) plus the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) — candidates get two CPAT practice sessions and one test attempt
- Panel oral board interview with three to four district officers/chiefs evaluating communication skills, analytical ability, and motivation
- Background investigation, driving record check, medical evaluation, and drug/alcohol screening (bloodwork and urinalysis)
Benefits
100% District-paid medical, dental, long-term disability, and basic life insurance for employees (50% coverage for dependents); Texas County & District Retirement System pension with a 2:1 employer match; Health Savings Account with employer contribution; 8 shifts (24-hour) of vacation and 6 shifts of sick leave per year after probation, plus 6 shifts of holiday leave; certification pay (EMT-Advanced, Paramedic, fire certifications) and education incentive pay from Associate's through Master's degree.
How do I become a firefighter with Travis County ESD No. 2 (Pflugerville Fire Department)?
Applicants complete the District Employment Application, then pass a written exam, a Physical Fitness Assessment and CPAT, a panel oral board interview, and a background/medical screening in that order, all steps must be passed to continue.
What are the minimum requirements to be a firefighter recruit?
Candidates must be 18 by their hire date, hold a high school diploma or G.E.D., have a valid TCFP Basic Firefighter certification and a DSHS/NREMT EMT-Basic certification (or higher), be eligible to work in the U.S., and hold a valid driver's license and Social Security card.
Does Pflugerville Fire Department hire paramedics?
Yes. Since 2017 the District has operated its own ambulance service out of each fire station using its own paramedics, currently running four ambulances plus reserve units, and pays certification incentives for EMT-Advanced and Paramedic credentials.
How many chances do candidates get to pass the CPAT?
Candidates have three opportunities total: two CPAT practice sessions and one official test. Travis County ESD No. 2 only accepts CPAT certificates earned through its own testing, not certificates from other departments.
What does a starting firefighter with Travis County ESD No. 2 earn?
Base pay is approximately $61,880 in the first (probationary) year, rising to about $63,132 in year two and $64,384 in year three, with additional certification and education incentive pay on top of base salary.