Fire Department · Career
Ankeny Fire Department
Ankeny, IA · Polk County
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Department careers page ↗The Ankeny Fire Department protects the City of Ankeny, a fast-growing Polk County suburb on the north side of the Des Moines metro. The department counts 88 members — 78 full-time, 4 part-time, and two office staff — serving a population of more than 76,000 and responding to more than 8,500 calls per year. Formally activated in 1910 as a volunteer company with a hand-drawn chemical cart, the department hired its first full-time chief in 1967 and reached around-the-clock staffed coverage in 2007.
Crews operate from Fire Headquarters at 120 NW Ash Drive (opened 1999), Station No. 2 on SE Oralabor Road (2009), Station No. 3 on NE 36th Street (2018), and Station No. 4 on NW Weigel Drive, opening in 2026 to serve the city's growing northwest. The fleet includes five engines, a ladder truck, two rescues, five ambulances, a brush truck, a tender, and a Zodiac boat.
Ankeny runs its own EMS transport service and carries an ISO Class 2 rating for fire suppression, effective July 2021. A Community Risk Reduction division led by a division chief serving as fire marshal handles commercial plan review, fire and life safety inspections, code enforcement, and public education.
Ankeny hires firefighters at the EMT or paramedic level through the City of Ankeny's online recruitment portal, and also maintains part-time firefighter positions. Candidates test through the Central Iowa Fire and EMS Testing Consortium (CIFETC), whose written exam and physical ability evaluation are administered through DMACC; a valid CPAT certification is accepted per the posted qualifications. New hires who are not yet paramedics must earn the certification within an agreed timeframe, with paramedic school paid in full by the city.
A lateral move program places currently certified paramedics with full-time experience at a higher pay step: 12 months of full-time paramedic experience starts at step 2, 24 months at step 3, and 36 months at step 4. Part-time experience with the Ankeny Fire Department also counts toward step placement.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Enrolled in or certified as an EMT, or certified as a paramedic, at time of application
- Current State of Iowa EMS certification at time of hire
- Paramedic certification within an agreed timeframe after hire
- IFSAC Fire Fighter I and II certifications
- Hazardous Materials Operations certification
- ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800
- Valid Iowa driver's license and insurability to operate city vehicles
- Pass the Central Iowa Fire and EMS Testing Consortium written exam and physical ability evaluation, or hold a valid CPAT certification
- Medical clearance per Iowa Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System standards
Hiring process
- Submit an application online through the City of Ankeny recruitment portal
- Pass the Central Iowa Fire and EMS Testing Consortium written exam and physical ability evaluation, or provide a valid CPAT certification
Benefits
Under the contract effective July 1, 2025, firefighter/paramedic starting pay runs $70,395–$94,474 depending on qualifications and experience, on a 24/48 schedule with overtime available.
- 411 pension system plus Social Security
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance with low monthly premiums
- Vacation from 120 hours in year 1 to 288 hours at year 15
- 120 hours (five 24-hour shifts) of personal leave per year
- Sick leave at 16.8 hours per month after 30 days
- Nine paid holidays
- Paramedic certification paid at 100 percent of DMACC's current rate
- On-duty mental and physical health programs
Do you have to be a paramedic to apply to the Ankeny Fire Department?
No. Applicants can apply while enrolled in or certified as an EMT, with State of Iowa EMS certification required at time of hire. New hires then earn paramedic certification within an agreed timeframe, and the department pays 100 percent of paramedic school at DMACC's current rate.
How does testing work for Ankeny firefighter jobs?
Ankeny tests through the Central Iowa Fire and EMS Testing Consortium (CIFETC), whose written exam and physical ability evaluation are administered through DMACC. The posted qualifications also accept a valid CPAT certification.
How can I find out when the Ankeny Fire Department is hiring?
Openings are posted on the City of Ankeny's online recruitment portal, and the department hires both full-time and part-time firefighters. Watch this department on Driftsmoke to get alerted when new Ankeny Fire Department jobs are posted.