Fire Department · Career
Owensboro Fire Department
Owensboro, KY · Daviess County
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Department careers page ↗The Owensboro Fire Department (OFD) is a career department serving the city of Owensboro in western Kentucky. It is staffed by 99 uniformed personnel plus one full-time civilian administrative aide, organized into administration, emergency services and operations, fire prevention and community services, and human resource development.
The department operates from five fire stations across the city, along with the Walter L. Freeman Training Center. Crews respond to fires, vehicle accidents, and medical emergencies, and firefighters are cross-trained in fire suppression, search and rescue, and emergency medical care. Advanced Life Support (ALS) capability, added in 2021, is carried on Engine 1, Engine 3, and Engine 5.
Beyond suppression, OFD covers hazmat and technical rescue, fire prevention, code enforcement, fire investigations, and community education. The department traces its roots to a late-19th-century volunteer bucket brigade that grew into today's professional organization.
OFD hires both entry-level recruits and experienced lateral-transfer firefighters. Entry-level hiring runs in application windows (the 2025 window closed March 15, and the department expects the next window to open in early 2026), while the Lateral Transfer Firefighter process stays open on an ongoing basis for experienced firefighters. Applications are submitted through the city's GovernmentJobs careers portal.
The department uses the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) as part of its hiring process; candidates are encouraged to review the CPAT preparation materials in the recruitment document center. The next scheduled CPAT is April 18, 2026.
Requirements
- Must pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) as part of the hiring process
- Lateral transfer applicants must be experienced firefighters
Hiring process
- Apply online through the city's GovernmentJobs careers portal (entry-level during an open application window, or lateral transfer on an ongoing basis)
- Complete the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
Benefits
The department advertises competitive pay, excellent benefits, and top-tier training for both new recruits and lateral transfers. Specific benefit details are not listed on the site.
Entry-level hires complete a recruit academy (a 2025 OFD Recruit Class graduated November 15); training is provided at the Walter L. Freeman Training Center.
How do I apply for a firefighter job with Owensboro Fire Department?
Apply through the city's GovernmentJobs careers portal. Entry-level hiring opens in application windows (the next expected in early 2026), and experienced firefighters can apply for a Lateral Transfer Firefighter position on an ongoing basis.
Does Owensboro Fire Department accept lateral transfers?
Yes. The department actively recruits experienced firefighters for lateral transfer opportunities, and that application process remains open even when entry-level hiring is closed.
What physical test is required to be hired?
OFD uses the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), an eight-event physical ability test. Candidates should review the CPAT information and preparation materials in the department's recruitment document center. The next CPAT is scheduled for April 18, 2026.
Is prior experience or certification required?
Entry-level recruits are provided training, so prior firefighting experience is not required for that path. Lateral transfer positions are intended for already-experienced firefighters.
What does an Owensboro firefighter get paid?
The department advertises competitive pay. A recent Lateral Transfer Firefighter posting listed pay of roughly $27.02 to $38.15 per hour.