Fire Department · Career
Adams County Fire Protection District
Denver, CO · Adams County
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Department careers page ↗Adams County Fire Rescue traces back to two volunteer outfits founded in 1946, the North Washington Fire District and the South West Adams County Fire District, both born out of a need for faster fire response on the county's poorly maintained rural roads. Each district professionalized over the following decades, North Washington adding paid staff in 1964 and South West Adams County following in 1999, as call volume grew and structure fires involving modern plastics and chemicals demanded more advanced training.
The two districts merged in 2015 to form Adams County Fire Rescue, and the department retired its last volunteer program in 2016, completing the transition to an all-career force while keeping the volunteer ethic in its culture. Today ACFR runs out of a headquarters, four fire stations, and a training center just north of Denver, delivering fire suppression, EMS, hazardous materials response, technical and water rescue, fire investigation, and community risk-reduction programs like CPR classes, car-seat safety checks, and youth firesetter intervention.
MissionACFR's mission is to engage with our community to address their needs in a professional manner.
ACFR hires firefighter/EMT candidates through its North Area Fire Academy pipeline and posts openings as they arise rather than on a fixed annual cycle. Applicants who pass entry testing and background screening attend an in-house academy that combines EMT-Basic training with fire recruit training before being assigned to a shift.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old at time of application
- Legally authorized to work in the United States
- High school diploma, GED, or higher education
- Proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English
- Valid Colorado driver's license with a satisfactory driving record
- Pass background check, criminal history review, fitness assessment, medical evaluation, drug screen, and psychological exam
- Pass either the FireTEAM test or the Public Safety Answers test ($50 fee for either)
- Meet physical fitness standards: 20 push-ups, 15 inverted rows, 20 weighted step-ups, 50-second side planks each side, and 12 METs on a treadmill
- No prior EMT certification required — EMT-Basic training is part of the North Area Fire Academy
- No CPAT required
Hiring process
- Submit application when a position is posted (or sign up for job alert notifications)
- Pass the FireTEAM test or Public Safety Answers test, including a video practical/interview component
- Pass background check, criminal history review, and driving record check
- Pass medical evaluation, drug screen, and psychological exam
- Meet physical fitness standards
- Attend the North Area Fire Academy: roughly a 10-week EMS academy followed by a 16-week fire academy, four days a week, ten hours a day, typically running January through August
Benefits
ACFR offers tuition reimbursement for college coursework, and for firefighters selected to advance to paramedic, the district covers full paramedic school costs while continuing their salary during training.
The North Area Fire Academy runs an EMS academy (about 10 weeks) followed by a 16-week fire academy, four 10-hour days per week, typically January through August; each day opens with physical fitness training followed by academic blocks.
How do I become a firefighter with Adams County Fire Rescue?
Applicants must be at least 18, legally authorized to work in the U.S., hold a high school diploma or GED, and have a valid Colorado driver's license. Candidates pass the FireTEAM or Public Safety Answers test, a background check, medical and psychological evaluations, and a physical fitness assessment, then complete ACFR's in-house North Area Fire Academy, which combines EMT-Basic and fire recruit training.
Do I need to be an EMT or have CPAT certification before applying to ACFR?
No. ACFR does not require CPAT or prior EMT certification — EMT-Basic training is built into the North Area Fire Academy that new hires attend after being selected.
Does Adams County Fire Rescue hire paramedics?
Yes. Paramedic candidates need current Colorado State Paramedic certification (or the ability to obtain it), National Registry Paramedic certification, and current AHA ACLS/CPR cards. ACFR also sponsors select firefighters through paramedic school, covering tuition and continuing their salary during training.
How long is the ACFR fire academy?
The North Area Fire Academy runs an approximately 10-week EMS academy followed by a 16-week fire academy, held four days a week for ten hours a day, typically from January through August.