Fire Department · Career
Delray Beach Fire Rescue
Delray Beach, FL · Palm Beach County
Delray Beach Fire Rescue protects the coastal city of Delray Beach in Palm Beach County, Florida, along with the neighboring town of Gulf Stream, from five fire stations. Each station is crewed by five to seven personnel and houses a rescue (transport) unit and a suppression unit — engine, ladder, or bucket truck — with specialty equipment assigned to some houses. The department's members are dually trained as firefighters and paramedics.
The department operates in four divisions: Administration, Operations, Fire and Life Safety, and Ocean Rescue. Beyond suppression and advanced life support transport, services include special operations (dive rescue, confined space, rope rescue, heavy extrication, and technical rescue), hazardous materials response, fire inspection, fire investigation, plan review, code enforcement, and fire and safety education. Ocean Rescue lifeguards — all licensed EMTs — supervise the Municipal Beach and Atlantic Dunes Park 365 days a year, and the unit has held United States Lifesaving Association Advanced Open Water Lifesaving Agency status since 1995.
Organized fire protection in Delray dates to the town council's approval of a fire district in 1917, and the department was among the first in the country to field fire rescue units. Today it has been recommended for reaccreditation by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, operates under a community-driven 2024–2029 strategic plan, and its firefighters are represented by IAFF Local 1842.
MissionFearlessly serve our community with an unwavering commitment to engage, educate, and innovate through rigorous training, aggressive tactics, and progressive outreach.
Applications go through the City of Delray Beach jobs portal at governmentjobs.com/careers/delraybeach; the city accepts applications when positions are advertised. The department recruits Florida-certified Firefighter II candidates who hold Florida Paramedic certification or National Registry — EMTs in their last semester of paramedic training are encouraged to apply — and hires both Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/Paramedic positions.
In its 2025 recruitment, selection ran an interview board with EMS testing scenarios, a Fire Chief interview, and a conditional offer followed by background, psychological, and medical evaluations, drug screening, and a polygraph before recruit training. In partnership with IAFF Local 1842, the department moved emergency-operations firefighters to a 24/72 schedule — a 42-hour workweek — on October 1, 2025, and recruited a fourth shift to staff it.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old
- Tobacco-free for at least 12 months before application and for the duration of employment
- Current CPAT/PAT completed no more than 12 months before application
- State of Florida Paramedic Certification or National Registry (EMTs in their last semester of paramedic training are encouraged to apply)
- State of Florida Firefighter II Certificate of Compliance
- State of Florida Class E driver's license
- State of Florida Bureau of EMS recognized Emergency Vehicle Operator Course
Hiring process
- Apply online at governmentjobs.com/careers/delraybeach
- Interview board and EMS testing scenarios
- Fire Chief interview
- Conditional job offer
- Background, psychological, and medical evaluations, drug screening, and polygraph
- Recruit training
Benefits
City benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance with dependent coverage, a defined-benefit pension plan, paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, and life and long-term disability insurance, plus an annual step compensation plan. Department-specific benefits include:
- Fitness facilities in all fire stations
- Free employee health clinics and prescription services for employees and immediate family members
- Tuition assistance after one year of employment
New hires complete department recruit training; the fourth-shift recruit class began training in August 2025.
Does Delray Beach Fire Rescue require paramedic certification?
Recent recruitments sought State of Florida Paramedic Certification or National Registry, and EMTs in their last semester of paramedic training were encouraged to apply. The department hires both Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/Paramedic positions, with a paramedic incentive built into Firefighter/Paramedic pay.
What is Delray Beach Fire Rescue's tobacco policy for new hires?
Applicants must have been tobacco-free for at least twelve months before applying and must remain tobacco-free for the duration of employment. The City of Delray Beach is a non-tobacco workplace.
Is out-of-state firefighter certification transferable to Florida?
Florida firefighter certifications are administered by the Bureau of Fire Standards at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala. Delray Beach Fire Rescue requires current Florida certifications, so out-of-state candidates should contact the State Fire College about converting their credentials before applying.
How often does Delray Beach Fire Rescue hire?
The city accepts applications only when a position is advertised, and vacancies depend on staffing requirements and budget. The department ran a major recruitment in 2025 to staff a fourth shift for its new 24/72 schedule. Watch this department on Driftsmoke to get alerted when new openings post.