Fire Department · Combination
Alexandria Fire Department
Alexandria, VA · City of Alexandria County
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Department careers page ↗Alexandria Fire Department traces its roots to 1774, with the city's first paid, professional firefighters hired in 1855. Today the department is a fully career agency of more than 300 employees operating out of 10 stations (201-210) spread across the city, with Station 204 serving as department headquarters and Station 202 housing training facilities, a maintenance shop, and a health/wellness clinic.
The department holds an ISO Public Protection Classification of 2 and answers more than 20,000 calls annually, the large majority of them EMS incidents. Beyond structural firefighting and EMS transport, crews staff specialized capabilities including hazardous materials response, technical rescue, marine/water operations, and other special operations units, backed by a Fire Marshal's Office, Fire Protection Systems Retesting Unit, and Community Risk Reduction and Community Outreach programs.
The department participates in an interjurisdictional response agreement with Arlington County and Fairfax County, dispatching the closest available units across jurisdictional lines to speed response times. Fire/EMS Chief Felipe Hernandez, sworn in July 2024, leads the agency, supported by Assistant Chiefs of Operations and Administration, a Health and Safety Deputy Chief, a Chief of Staff, and a Senior Public Information Officer.
Alexandria Fire Department hires entry-level Firefighter I recruits into a full-time, paid, uniformed position. The department does not accept lateral transfers -- all applicants, including experienced firefighters from other jurisdictions, must go through the same competitive process. As of this review, the Firefighter I application process is closed.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Minimum age 18
- Valid driver's license with no restrictions
- No felony convictions
- Legal authorization to work in the U.S. (citizenship not required)
- No Virginia or Alexandria residency requirement
Hiring process
- Submit online application via NeoGov
- Application screening
- Eligibility notification
- CPAT orientation, practice runs, and official timed test
- Written exam (NFSI format)
- Fingerprinting and background questionnaire
- Polygraph evaluation
- Psychological evaluation
- Medical examination (NFPA 1582 standard)
- Panel review, Fire Chief review, and final selection
Benefits
National Registry Paramedics (NRP) receive a $5,000 lump-sum hiring bonus plus a $10,000/year incentive while completing ALS training.
Recruits attend a roughly 26-week academy working 8-hour days, 5 days a week, before moving to line shifts.
How many people work for the Fire Department?
The Fire Department has 311 employees.
Why do fire trucks from Arlington and Fairfax respond in Alexandria?
Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax have an Interjurisdictional Response Agreement that dispatches the closest units regardless of jurisdiction, improving coverage.
Why does a fire engine come when only an ambulance was requested?
Fire trucks often arrive first as the closest unit, and all firefighters are trained to provide basic emergency medical treatment to stabilize patients before paramedics arrive.
What are ambulance transport charges?
BLS: $500; ALS-1: $650; ALS-2: $800; plus $10 per mile.
What are the shift schedules?
Fire Suppression works a 56-hour week (24 on/24 off twice, then 4 days off). EMS works a 42-hour week (24 on/48 off, then 24 on/4 days off). Fire Prevention staff work rotating shifts or Monday-Friday 7:30 am-4:00 pm, with Fire Protection Systems Inspectors on 10-hour days.