Fire Department · Combination
Poudre Fire Authority
Fort Collins, CO · Larimer County
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) serves the City of Fort Collins and the Poudre Valley Fire Protection District, covering roughly 230 square miles of northern Colorado that includes Fort Collins, Timnath, Laporte, Bellvue and surrounding communities. The agency protects more than 216,000 residents and handles about 22,000 emergency calls each year, roughly 13,000 of which are medical.
PFA was formed in 1981 through the consolidation of the Fort Collins Fire Department and the Poudre Valley Fire Protection District, following a 1980 intergovernmental agreement intended to speed response times and eliminate duplicated services. The Authority is governed by a five-member Board of Directors drawn from the Fort Collins City Council and the PVFPD Board.
Beyond fire suppression and emergency medical response, PFA fields wildland, hazardous materials, and technical rescue capabilities (water, ice, rope, confined-space, and trench rescue), along with fire investigation, inspections, and community outreach and education. Its work is organized around a Mission, Vision, and Principles (MVP) framework.
The department is accredited through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), and its firefighters are represented by IAFF Local 1945.
PFA hires career firefighters through periodic, as-needed processes that are announced on the department's career pages and social media rather than run continuously. The process begins with an online application and a written entrance test (a $35 registration fee applies), followed by interviews, with a valid current CPAT card required by the second round of interviews. Conditional offers are contingent on a background check, psychological evaluation, drug screen, and physical evaluations.
An EMT certification is not required to apply, but a current National Registry or Colorado EMT certification must be in hand before starting the academy; PFA will help candidates who receive a conditional offer complete that certification. New firefighters follow a defined promotional timeline, working toward Acting Engineer within four years and Acting Lieutenant within six years of hire.
Requirements
- At least 18 years of age
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Valid driver's license in good standing
- EMT not required to apply, but a current National Registry or Colorado EMT certification is required before starting the academy
- Valid, current CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) card required at second-round interviews
- Must pass a background check
- Must pass a psychological evaluation (upon conditional job offer)
- Must pass a drug screen
- Must pass physical evaluations
Hiring process
- Submit the online application when a process is open
- Register and pay the $35 fee to take the entrance test
- Complete the written test
- Interview rounds (valid current CPAT required at the second-round interview)
- Receive a conditional job offer
- Complete background check, psychological evaluation, and drug screen
- Obtain National Registry or Colorado EMT certification before academy
- Attend the fire academy
Benefits
PFA offers medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, plus paid time off and sick leave. Additional benefits include limited tuition reimbursement and other health and wellbeing programs.
A current National Registry or Colorado EMT certification is required before starting the academy; PFA assists candidates who receive a conditional offer but do not yet hold EMT certification.
Do I need an EMT certification to apply?
No. You do not need an EMT certification to apply. However, a current National Registry or Colorado EMT certification is required before you start the academy. If you receive a conditional job offer without one, PFA will assist you through the certification process.
Is PFA currently hiring career firefighters?
Career firefighter hiring processes are set up as needed rather than run continuously, and openings are announced on PFA's career webpages and social media. PFA also periodically hires volunteer and part-time firefighters.
What does a PFA firefighter earn?
The base salary for an introductory (probationary) firefighter is about $76,228 per year, rising to about $98,007 per year after successful completion of the probationary year. These figures exclude overtime and holiday pay.
Is there a fee to take the entrance test?
Yes. Applicants register and pay a $35 fee to take the entrance test.
When is the CPAT required?
A valid, current CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) card is required at the time of second-round interviews.
What are the basic requirements to become a PFA firefighter?
You must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or GED, and have a valid driver's license in good standing. Candidates must also pass a background check, psychological evaluation, drug screen, and physical evaluations.