With 43 stations spanning over 300 square-miles, the Charlotte Fire Department provides fire suppression, emergency medical, technical urban rescue, fire prevention, fire investigation, and public education services. The department’s ISO Class 1 Public Protection Classification rating and International Accredited status rank it among the top fire departments in the world.
The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 17th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 875,000 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.
Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone - a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.
Public Safety
Performs general firefighting duties to achieve fire suppression
and rescue activities. Responsibilities include protection of life and property
through firefighting, rescue, acting as a first responder Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT) and performing related duties. Assignments are given by a
superior officer at both emergency scenes and the Fire Station.
Responds to fire alarms with a company; lays and connects
hose; holds nozzles and directs water streams; climbs ladders; uses chemical
fire extinguishers, bars, hooks, lines, and other equipment.
Ventilates burning buildings by opening windows and
skylights or by cutting holes in roofs and floors.
Provides medical assistance to fire victims or as fire
responders to emergency situations, until arrival of county medical unit.
Performs salvage operations such as applying salvage covers,
sweeping water and removing debris.
Participates in fire drills and attends training classes in
apparatus operation, firefighting, emergency medical and related subjects;
studies assigned materials relating to firefighting and fire prevention.
Inspects buildings and premises for familiarization; checks
for fire hazards; participates in the inspection and maintenance of fire
hydrants.
Operates fire apparatus and assumes command of a fire
company on an occasional basis.
Performs general maintenance and cleaning work in the upkeep
of departmental apparatus, equipment, and structures; cleans kitchen, sleeping
quarters, walls, and floors; washes, hangs and dries hose; washes, cleans and
polishes apparatus.
Performs related work as required.
Works a 24-hour day (average of 10 days per month, including
weekends and holidays). There are three shifts (A-shift, B-shift, and C-shift)
and firefighters work to provide continuous service. An example work schedule
is WORK-off-WORK-off-off-WORK-off-WORK-off-off-off-off. This cycle then starts
over after the 4-day break.
All newly hired Fire Fighter Recruits will go through an
initial training program of approximately 26 weeks, Monday through Friday,
approximately 8:00am to 5:00pm. The training academy curriculum is required of
all new hires, regardless of previous education or experience. In order to
graduate from the training academy, recruits must meet all standards
established by the department, including but not limited to:
Physical
Requirements:
All
applicants must pass a physical ability test during the hiring process. For
more information on the physical ability test please visit our website https://charlottenc.gov/fire/employmentopportunities/Pages/default.aspx.
Fire
Fighters must have the agility and physical strength to do prolonged and
arduous work under adverse conditions. This includes, but is not limited to,
the ability to lift, move and maintain position on items (e.g. charged hoses)
up to 90 pounds, push objects up to 25 pounds, pull objects from 25 to 50
pounds, and lift or pull victims weighing more than 150 pounds. In addition,
Fire Fighters must think critically and solve complex problems during physical
exertion in stressful, hazardous environments.
Initial
Testing Information:
Soon after the application period has closed and all completed applications have been received, invitations to the Structured Oral Interview (SOI) will be emailed. Structured Oral Interviews (SOIs) will be held between Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23, 2022. Applicant SOI dates and times will be assigned at random. In this exercise, applicants will be given hypothetical situations to respond to. Applicants may visit https://charlottenc.gov/fire/employmentopportunities/Pages/default.aspx to review the Candidate Introduction Document.
After completion of the Structured Oral Interview, upon exiting, each applicant will receive a randomly assigned appointment time and location to report to for the Written Exam on Monday, October 24, 2022. The exam does not require applicants to have prior knowledge about fire services work. Applicants may visit https://charlottenc.gov/fire/employmentopportunities/Pages/default.aspx to review the Candidate Introduction Document.
General Information:
Please
visit https://charlottenc.gov/fire/employmentopportunities/Pages/default.aspx
for details regarding the full Fire Fighter Recruit hiring process and starting
a career in Firefighting.
Personal application status and Notices that have been emailed to applicants will be stored for 24/7 access in their JobAps Applicant Profile at https://jobapscloud.com/oec/Charlotte after submitting an application. Applicants should log in frequently to review.
Eligibility Requirements:
Automatic
Disqualifiers Include, but are not Limited to:
Starting salary is $48,319 annually for all Fire Fighter Recruits.
Upon
completion of Recruit School, Fire Fighters receive a 5% incentive for Associate’s
degree or a 10% incentive for Bachelor’s degree; an official transcript is
required.
The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.
Background
checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the
guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a
candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background
report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and
dispose of information derived from such reports.
Final
candidates must pass a physical examination and pre-employment drug-screening
test. During the selection process, candidates will be required to participate
in various testing and assessments. Please visit https://charlottenc.gov/fire/employmentopportunities/Pages/default.aspx
for details regarding the full Fire Fighter Recruit hiring process and starting
a career in Firefighting.
The City of Charlotte now requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for any new City of Charlotte employees. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer and, as such, will consider reasonable accommodation as required by law. Proof of vaccination is NOT required until a candidate receives and accepts a Conditional Offer of employment, at which time the candidate will be advised that proof must be submitted to CFD HR prior to their first date of employment.
Apply online by the deadline.
By
submitting this application, you are agreeing that you have read and understand
the above information, to the best of your ability, including the NFPA 1582
Medical Requirements.
Federal
law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified
individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable
accommodation to apply for a job.
Anyone
seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may email CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.
You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human
Resources Department lobby where there are workstations available to submit
your online application. The office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite
200, Charlotte, NC 28202 and the hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.
The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.
Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.
The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.