Fire Department · Combination
Branford Fire Department
Branford, CT · South Central Regional County
28 career professional firefighters plus more than 100 volunteer firefighters across the department's volunteer companies (as of the department's 2023 staffing and facilities plan).
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Branford's fire protection traces back to loosely organized bucket brigades in the early 1800s, when church bells summoned able-bodied townspeople to fight fires by hand. The town made its first formal commitment to a municipal department in 1899, funding hose carriages and ladder equipment, and independent companies grew up around the community's villages, including the Martin Burke Hook & Ladder Company, the Louis A. Fisk Hose Company, M.P. Rice Hose Company, Stony Creek, and Short Beach Hose Hook & Ladder. A central Fire Headquarters on North Main Street was approved in 1962 and completed in 1963, marking the hiring of the department's first full-time career personnel alongside its long-standing volunteer companies.
Today Branford Fire Department operates as a combination department: 28 career professional firefighters work alongside more than 100 volunteer firefighters based out of Fire Headquarters and the town's volunteer companies (M.P. Rice Hose Company 2, Short Beach HH&L Company 4, and Stony Creek Company 5), plus a Fire Police Squad that handles traffic and scene control. Emergency medical services became an integral part of department operations when the Branford Ambulance Department merged in November 1992.
The department is guided by a Board of Fire Commissioners and has been publicly documenting a staffing and facilities challenge: a steady decline in volunteer membership combined with rising call volume, driven mainly by EMS incidents, has strained the department's ability to consistently staff its volunteer-based engine companies. The department has added automatic mutual aid with neighboring East Haven to help cover the gap while pursuing longer-term staffing and facilities solutions.
MissionThe Branford Fire Department will provide the highest level of service to our community by valuing our members, promoting positive leadership, and dedicating ourselves to excellence.
Branford Fire Department hires career firefighters on an as-needed basis rather than through a standing, always-open posting. When recruiting, the department has participated in the State of Connecticut Firefighter Testing Consortium, a shared hiring process (administered via IO Solutions) that lets one application and exam cycle be used to apply to multiple participating Connecticut fire departments at once. General town employment postings for all Town of Branford departments, including Fire, are centralized on the Town's ADP Career Center via the Employment Opportunities page.
Requirements
- U.S. citizenship or legal authorization to work in the United States
- High school diploma or equivalent (GED)
- Valid driver's license
- Individual departments in the consortium may set additional, more stringent requirements (e.g., EMT certification)
Hiring process
- Submit an application (non-refundable application fee) during an open Connecticut Firefighter Testing Consortium cycle via IO Solutions
- Complete a proctored written examination (offered virtually, taken from home)
- Complete an oral interview for candidates who pass the written exam
- Placement on a department eligibility list for hiring consideration
Is Branford Fire Department a career or volunteer department?
It's a combination department: 28 career professional firefighters work alongside more than 100 volunteer firefighters organized into several volunteer companies plus a Fire Police Squad.
What is Branford Fire Department's mission?
"The Branford Fire Department will provide the highest level of service to our community by valuing our members, promoting positive leadership, and dedicating ourselves to excellence."
Does Branford Fire Department provide EMS?
Yes. The Branford Ambulance Department merged into the fire department in November 1992, and emergency medical response is now an integral part of department operations.
How do I schedule a Fire Marshal inspection?
Call the Fire Marshal's Office at 203-488-7266 at least 7 business days in advance.
How can I join a Branford volunteer fire company?
The department maintains an Application for Voluntary Membership form; interested residents should contact the department (203-488-8394) or reach out to one of the volunteer companies (M.P. Rice Hose Co. 2, Short Beach HH&L Co. 4, or Stony Creek Co. 5) directly.