Fire Department
Vadnais Heights Fire Department
Saint Paul, MN · Ramsey County
6 full-time staff · ~40 part-time firefighters
The Vadnais Heights Fire Department has protected the city of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota since 1970. From two stations — the South Fire Station headquarters at 3595 Arcade Street N and the North Fire Station at 665 East County Road F — the department covers 8.3 square miles of Ramsey County that hold roughly 13,500 residents, hundreds of businesses, and two major interstates.
VHFD is a combination department: six full-time staff (the fire chief, an assistant chief, three fire technicians, and an administrative assistant) work alongside roughly 35–40 part-time firefighters. Since 2014 the department has used a duty-crew staffing model, keeping the south station staffed around the clock. The fleet runs eight vehicles, including a ladder truck, a heavy rescue and a light rescue unit, a grass rig, a mini-pumper/rescue, a tanker, and two pumpers.
Crews handle structure and vegetation fires, motor vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, fire alarms, and hazardous-materials incidents — roughly 1,500 calls a year, a volume the department says has been climbing 10–15% annually and was on pace to top 1,900 in 2025. VHFD works alongside the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office and Allina Ambulance, belongs to the Capital City Mutual Aid Association, and has operated under Ramsey County's closest-unit automatic dispatch agreement since 2021.
In October 2025 the city council directed staff to begin planning a replacement for the 1994-built South Fire Station — a roughly $20 million project intended to properly support the department's 24-hour staffing.
MissionOur firefighters have the desire to serve, the courage to act, the ability to perform.
VHFD hires part-time firefighters and accepts applications year-round through the city website, with periodic posted deadlines. No prior experience is required: the department covers the cost of all coursework needed to meet minimum firefighter qualifications — EMT-B, Firefighter I & II, and Hazardous Materials Operations — and most recruits complete the program in about a year.
Candidates must pass a drug screening, a medical evaluation, and the department's physical ability test. The recruitment page lists pay at $18–20+/hour, covering duty-crew shift pay, calls, training, and meetings, with duty-crew shifts assigned through quarterly bidding.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Valid Minnesota driver's license
- Pass a drug screening, medical evaluation, and physical ability test
- Reside within a 30-minute response of the Vadnais Heights fire station
Hiring process
- Submit an application online through the city website (accepted year-round) or in person at City Hall
- Pass a drug screening and medical evaluation
- Pass the fire department physical ability test
- Complete department-paid training (EMT-B, Firefighter I & II, Hazmat Operations) if not already certified
Benefits
- Hourly pay ($18–20+/hr per the department's recruitment page) for duty-crew shifts, calls, training, and meetings
- Pension benefit of $8,800 per year of qualifying service, for members who serve five years or more
- Certification coursework (EMT-B, Firefighter I & II, Hazmat Operations) paid by the department
The department pays for all required coursework for new members without certifications — EMT-B, Firefighter I & II, and Hazardous Materials Operations; most recruits complete the program in about one year.
Do you have to live in Vadnais Heights to join the fire department?
No. Members must be able to respond from home to a Vadnais Heights fire station within 30 minutes under normal driving conditions; living in the city itself is not required.
Can Vadnais Heights firefighters keep another full-time job?
Yes — most VHFD members work full-time jobs elsewhere. Duty-crew shifts are assigned through quarterly bidding, so firefighters can schedule department shifts around outside employment.