Fire Department · Combination
Aspen Fire Protection District
Aspen, CO · Pitkin County
No active openings right now
Watch this department to be notified when Aspen Fire Protection District is hiring, or check their careers page.
Department careers page ↗Aspen Fire Protection District has served the Aspen area for more than 140 years, covering roughly 87 square miles across the Town of Aspen and unincorporated parts of Pitkin County. The district runs five stations and operates a mix of engines, a ladder truck, tenders, rescue units, and brush trucks to handle fire suppression, wildfire response, and emergency medical assistance.
Given Aspen's mountain and forest setting, the district places heavy emphasis on wildfire mitigation and preparedness, running programs such as chipper days, prescribed fire projects, wildfire risk assessments, and an AI-based smoke-detection camera system (Pano AI) alongside its emergency response operations.
The district is governed by an elected Board of Directors and is staffed by career firefighters organized into A, B, and C duty shifts, supplemented by an active volunteer/auxiliary firefighter program that trains new recruits through its own firefighter academy.
MissionProtect our community and environment by providing education, prevention, and response through professional excellence!
The district's paid firefighter positions (full-time, full-time temporary, and part-time) were all listed as closed at the time of review, with no active openings. The district's ongoing pathway into the organization is its volunteer/auxiliary firefighter program, which accepts applications on a continuous basis and selects candidates periodically for recruit academy classes (next class slated for 2026).
Requirements
- At least 21 years old
- Legal US resident
- Colorado driver's license (or able to obtain one within 6 months)
- High school diploma or GED
- Clean driving and criminal history
- Must pass the Physical Agility Test
Hiring process
- Submit application through the district's volunteer careers portal
- Meet eligibility requirements (age, residency, license, education, background)
- Pass the Physical Agility Test
- Selection into a periodic recruit class
- Complete firefighter academy for basic certifications
Benefits
Workers' compensation, disability, and life insurance; retirement benefits and health insurance; free fire/rescue and EMS training; fitness/wellness benefits and equipment access.
New recruits attend a firefighter academy covering all basic certifications needed to serve, along with orientation to the department's culture and history. Fewer than 30% of initial applicants complete rookie training.
What is wildfire mitigation, and does it work?
Mitigation reduces the destructive effects of fire through actions like removing combustible materials, prescribed burns, tree thinning, and creating defensible space, and research confirms it works.
Is funding assistance available for mitigation work?
Yes. The Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative offers mitigation grants to homeowners, with additional incentives available through Colorado state programs.
Does Aspen use smoke detection cameras?
Yes, the district uses Pano AI, an artificial-intelligence-based early landscape smoke detection tool.
Do residents who live within town limits still need to prepare for wildfire?
Yes. Hot embers can travel a mile and ignite materials on any property, making preparation a community-wide responsibility.
Who should residents contact with neighborhood mitigation questions?
Ali Hammond, Director of Community Wildfire Resilience, at ali.hammond@aspenfire.com.