Fire Department
New Ulm Fire Department
New Ulm, MN · Brown County
Volunteer force · full-time chief
No active openings right now
Watch this department to be notified when New Ulm Fire Department is hiring, or check their careers page.
Department careers page ↗The New Ulm Fire Department protects the city of New Ulm and its surrounding area in Brown County, in south-central Minnesota. Established in 1870, the department fields 41 firefighters, including a full-time fire chief, and responds to roughly 120 fire calls a year.
The department operates from two stations. Engine House No. 1, the main station at 526 8th North Street, was built in 1997 and houses the city pumper, ladder truck, rescue truck, tanker, rural pumper, grass truck, and a rescue boat. The Goosetown station (Engine House No. 3) at 18 South Valley Street was first established in 1890; its current building, completed in 1990, holds two more pumpers and a 47-foot drill tower used for training.
Beyond emergency responses, members of the department put in more than 5,000 hours of training, meetings, and volunteer service each year.
New Ulm hires volunteer firefighters through the City of New Ulm's Human Resources department, with applications submitted online through the city's GovernmentJobs portal. Recruitment opens periodically as the department has openings — a volunteer firefighter posting was accepting applications as of July 2026, with interviews planned for September 2026.
No prior fire certification is required to apply; all required training is completed after joining. Because members respond from home, applicants must live within a 10-minute drive of the New Ulm fire station.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license
- Live within a 10-minute drive of the New Ulm fire station
- Pass a background check, physical exam, and drug screening
- Meet medical standards and be able to wear an SCBA
Hiring process
- Submit an application through the City of New Ulm's online jobs portal
- Interview with the department
- Pass a background check
- Pass a physical exam and drug screening
- Complete required fire and medical certifications after appointment
Benefits
Volunteer firefighters are paid $15 per call, distributed at the end of the year, and earn a pension of $8,000 per year of service. Members vest at 10 years of service at 60%, and the vested share rises 4% per year until reaching 100% at 20 years of service — a $160,000 benefit.
New members complete the Firefighter 1001 Essentials course within 8 months of joining, accredited Firefighter I and II certification plus ICS 100, 200, and 700 within 12 months, and Advanced First Aid and CPR within 24 months.
How much of a time commitment is volunteering with the New Ulm Fire Department?
Members are expected to respond to at least 45% of fire calls and attend 65% of meetings and trainings. Across the department, firefighters log more than 5,000 hours of training, meetings, and volunteer service each year.
How often does the New Ulm Fire Department recruit new firefighters?
The department recruits as openings occur rather than on a fixed cycle — a volunteer firefighter posting ran in summer 2026 with interviews set for September. Watch this department on Driftsmoke to get an alert when a new opening posts.