Fire Department · Career
Citrus County Fire Rescue
Crystal River, FL · Citrus County
Citrus County Fire Rescue seeks a part-time Fire Instructor with $24/hour pay, requiring Firefighter II and Fire Instructor I certifications. Applications are accepted continuously.
Citrus County Fire Rescue offers $64,000 annual salary for Paramedics with continuous application acceptance. Required certifications include Florida Paramedic license and EVOC.
Citrus County Fire Rescue offers an annual salary of $60,512 for Transport Firefighter/EMT roles with continuous application acceptance and benefits like wellness incentives and comprehensive health insurance.
Citrus County Fire Rescue offers an annual salary of $69,021 for Transport Firefighter/Paramedics with continuous application acceptance. Required certifications include Florida EMT-Paramedic and Firefighter II.
Volunteer position with per-call stipend; no minimum age requirement beyond 18. Must live within 20 miles of a station.
Citrus County Fire Rescue protects roughly 153,855 residents across a 773-square-mile service area on Florida's Nature Coast, operating from 10 active stations spread from Crystal River and Homosassa to Inverness and Floral City. It is a county department reporting through the County Administrator to the Board of County Commissioners.
The department is organized into four divisions: Operations, Fire Prevention, Emergency Medical Services, and Administration. Its ranks include battalion chiefs, company officers, driver engineers, firefighters, and a large complement of paramedics and EMTs, reflecting a combined fire and transport-EMS agency.
The fleet is built for the county's mix of coastal, rural, and suburban terrain, spanning fire engines and a 107-foot ladder truck alongside brush trucks, tankers, marine units, and ATVs. A dedicated squad/technical rescue engine supports specialized incidents.
Citrus County Fire Rescue also runs a Fire Training Center with its own Fire Academy and a range of community programs, from a Smoke Alarm Program and Knox Box services to a Safe Haven Baby Box and community paramedicine.
Mission"Dedicated to exceptional service through prevention, response, and education — protecting lives, property, and our community every day."
Citrus County Fire Rescue accepts applications continuously through the county's GovernmentJobs portal for career Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/Paramedic roles, as well as single-certified EMT/Paramedic and paid on-call positions. Candidates need Florida licensure and, for career firefighter roles, a Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance.
Firefighter applicants who hold a current CPAT certificate can skip directly to the interview; those without complete an assessment at the Fire Training Center consisting of a written test, a physical test in full bunker gear, and an interview. The department's own Fire Academy provides Certificate of Compliance training (but not EMT or paramedic courses), and out-of-state or military candidates can seek equivalency through Florida's Challenge Review Board.
Requirements
- Active Florida EMT License or Paramedic License
- Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance (for career firefighter positions)
- Active CPR/BLS Certification
- EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operator Course)
- Active ACLS Certification (Paramedics only)
- CPAT certificate (optional; allows skipping to the interview process)
Hiring process
- Apply through the county GovernmentJobs portal for an available position
- With a current CPAT certificate, proceed directly to the interview
- Without CPAT, complete a written test at the Fire Training Center
- Complete a physical test in full bunker gear
- Interview
The department operates its own Fire Academy at the Fire Training Center, providing training toward the Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance; it does not offer EMT or paramedic courses. Out-of-state and military credentials can be evaluated through Florida's Challenge Review Board.
How do I apply for a firefighter job with Citrus County Fire Rescue?
Applications are accepted continuously for available positions through the county's GovernmentJobs portal at governmentjobs.com/careers/citrusfl.
What certifications do I need to become a career firefighter here?
Career Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/Paramedic roles require a Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance, an active Florida EMT or Paramedic license, CPR/BLS, and EVOC; paramedics also need active ACLS certification.
Do I need a CPAT certificate to apply?
CPAT is optional. Applicants with a current CPAT certificate can skip directly to the interview process. Without CPAT, you complete an assessment at the Fire Training Center including a written test, a physical test in full bunker gear, and an interview.
Does the department offer its own firefighter training?
Yes. Citrus County Fire Rescue runs a Fire Academy at its Fire Training Center that provides training toward the Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance, though it does not offer EMT or paramedic courses.
I'm certified out of state or through the military — can I still qualify?
Yes. Florida's Challenge Review Board evaluates equivalent training; approval requires passing written and practical exams.
What is the difference between paid on-call firefighters and volunteers?
Paid on-call firefighters are state-certified (Firefighter I) personnel who respond to emergency and non-emergency calls as needed but are not full-time employees. Volunteers are non-certified individuals who support logistics and fire prevention activities.
Past postings, kept for reference. These are no longer accepting applications.
Citrus County Fire Rescue offers $64,000 annual salary for Paramedics with continuous application acceptance. Required certifications include Florida Paramedic license and EVOC.
Citrus County Fire Rescue offers an annual salary of $60,512 for Transport Firefighter/EMT roles with continuous application acceptance and benefits like wellness incentives and comprehensive health insurance.
Citrus County Fire Rescue offers an annual salary of $69,021 for Transport Firefighter/Paramedics with continuous application acceptance. Required certifications include Florida EMT-Paramedic and Firefighter II.