Fire Fighter/EMT Recruit

Firefighter / Emergency Medical Technician
Fire Rescue
Full-Time, 12 Months
Non-Exempt, VRS-Eligible, Benefits-Eligible,
Firefighter / EMT Pay Scale

Join a dedicated team of principled public servants that are committed to building leaders who inspire and achieve excellence through the practice of our core values including innovation, learning, integrity, and stewardship. We are seeking individuals to serve the citizens of Albemarle County as a Firefighter / EMT who are committed to partnering with the community and have demonstrated superior ability as a leader. 

THE POSITION – FIREFIGHTER / EMT
The Firefighter / EMT performs responsible protective service work involving fire suppression, emergency medical care, specialized rescue, hazardous material mitigation, prevention activities, pre-planning, building inspections, training, physical fitness and performs other work as required. The successful candidate(s) will perform customer service/community service projects of varied nature to include such tasks as safety outreach to the elderly, public education and community contact for the County's public safety team. Additionally, serve as a community contact for accessing other county services. 

Work involves responsibilities to include: maintaining, cleaning and performing minor repairs of all associated fire and EMS apparatus and equipment. Maintains and performs custodial duties at the assigned station. He/she may be assigned to various divisions within the department including operations, training, prevention, and administration.

THE DEPARTMENT – FIRE RESCUE
Albemarle County has a unique emergency services system. Volunteer and career personnel cooperatively provide fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to the community while partnering with other local and regional emergency services organizations. We are an equal opportunity and progressive organization whose goal is to provide the highest quality service. The Department provides emergency fire, rescue, and medical services for over 110,000 residents and 726 square miles of land. ACFR provides emergency responses from stations on12-hour and 24-hour schedules. 

To learn more about working for Albemarle County Fire Rescue click here or visit www.workforACFR.com

EXPECTATIONS
Essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Responds to incidents requiring firefighting, emergency medical care, specialized rescue, and hazardous material emergencies. Activities include a driving/operation fire apparatus and emergency medical vehicles; may make the initial determination of necessary personnel, equipment, and suppression or containment tactics until relieved by the superior officer;
• Advances hose lines into fire area; selects hose size and nozzle, depending on type of fire; deploys and connects hoses; holds nozzles and directs streams of water onto fire; raises and climbs ladders; creates openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance using various hand and power tools; receives and relays information related to emergency calls; operates radio and other communication equipment; enters premises for firefighting, rescue, and salvage operations; assists in investigation of fire cause and determination; uses various types of extinguishing agents;
• Performs necessary rescues; removes persons from danger; responds to calls for lost individuals and participates in searches; administers emergency medical techniques in accordance with established protocols for basic life support; response to emergency medical calls for the sick and injured requiring the use of suction equipment, immobilization equipment, and oxygen delivery systems;
• Responds to hazardous material situations, identifies the type and state of material involved, initiating the appropriate protective action to control or contain any spilled material; deploys various booms, pads, and barriers to contain spills and mitigate runoff; performs fire suppression activities, as necessary; assists in direction of evacuation operations, as necessary;
• Performs fire safety inspections; conducts pre-planning of business establishments within the assigned area; inspects hydrants and prepares and maintains required reports and drawings of each structure inspected; forwards all required inspection reports to the County Fire Prevention Office; maintains pre-plan files and street map books at the assigned station;
• Prepares drawings of locations of sprinkler, standpipe and Fire Department connections;
• Performs home fire safety inspections at the request of the owner;
• Presents various safety programs to community groups and school systems on fire safety, prevention, personal safety, and emergency medical services;
• Inspects and installs Child Safety Seats
• Drives, maintains and operates all assigned apparatus; inspects assigned apparatus daily to ensure efficient operation and readiness; washes, cleans, polishes, maintains and tests apparatus and equipment as necessary after completion of emergency response operations;
• Performs general custodial duties in the required upkeep of the fire/rescue facilities assigned; cares for grounds around the station; makes minor repairs as needed;
• Participates in classes in firefighting, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, heavy and technical rescue, and other related subjects;
• Participates in daily physical fitness training programs;
• Does related work as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be at least 18 years of age. 
• High school diploma or GED required. 
• Possession of a valid Driver’s License (for at least 2 years) required at time of employment. 

At completion of the County-sponsored recruit school, the successful candidate must have obtained certifications in Virginia Emergency Medical Technician-Basic; VDFP Firefighter I; VDFP Hazardous Materials Operations; EVOC Level 2; FEMA Incident Command System 100, 200, 700 and 800; Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support; Safe Kids Child Safety Seat Technician, and others as determined by the Department. At the completion of one-year probation, must have successfully completed the ACFR release process for firefighter, EMT-B, and ambulance driver.

Must maintain all required certifications and licenses. 

Must be endorsed by the Department’s Operational Medical Director.

NATURE OF WORK 

Physical 
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach and stretch with hands and arms with a full range of motion. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; jump; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk and smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 165 pounds. Wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus is required and each employee must be able to pass an NFPA 1582 physical and respirator fit test annually. The employee is subject to a no-tobacco policy. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts, in high precarious places and confined spaces. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electric shock and vibration. The employee is often exposed to extremely high-temperature intensities and sudden temperature changes. The noise level in the working environment is usually moderate, except during certain firefighting or EMT activities when noise levels may be loud. The employee may be required to work rotating shifts, or a set, business hour schedule depending on the position and is considered essential emergency personnel. Any personnel in this position are required to work during emergency situations and are subject to be recalled to work at any time.

Mental
The employee will be expected to perform job duties while enduring environments that are physically and mentally stressful up to and including environments immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH). The employee will be expected to function as part of a team in an IDLH environment. The employee will be expected to operate in a variety of shifts to include 8, 12, and 24 hour durations and in potentially sleep deprived conditions. The employee will be expected to process complex emotional situations involving loss of property, human suffering and / or death. The employee will be expected to perform complex cognitive functions and analytical skills while in an IDLH environment and under stressful conditions. The employee will be expected to control their emotions and exercise sound judgement and decision-making skills while in an IDLH and under stressful conditions.

HIRING SALARY: The starting pay for a new recruit without experience is $57,363 per year with excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, VRS retirement, and continuing education/training opportunities. Recruits who have graduated from an accredited college or university with an Associate's Degree will receive an additional $1,000 per year and those with a Bachelor's Degree will receive an additional $2,000 per year. This is a full time, FLSA non-exempt position. Internal candidates will receive pay adjustments in accordance with Local Government Personnel Policy, §P-60.
*rates are based on the Fiscal Year 2027 public safety pay scale and are subject to change. 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: August 16, 2026

PROCESS: Learn more about the hiring process for the Firefighter / Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) position at the www.workforACFR.com

Learn more about the County as a great place to live at New Resident Guide

You may find more information at the Albemarle County Human Resources page http://www.albemarle.org/hr.

Remote Work:
This position is not eligible for remote work. All County staff must maintain residence within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Albemarle County Core Values:
Albemarle County holds its employees to the highest standards in fulfilling the County’s Vision and Mission. We believe in excellence in public service through: 

Community:  We expect diversity, equity and inclusion to be integrated into how we live our mission.

Integrity: We value our customers and co-workers by always providing honest and fair treatment.

Innovation: We embrace creativity and positive change.

Stewardship: We honor our role as stewards of the public trust by managing our natural, human, and financial resources respectfully and responsibly.

Learning: We encourage and support lifelong learning and personal and professional growth.