Fire Department · Combination
Dona Ana County Admin
Las Cruces, NM · Doña Ana County
No active openings right now
Watch this department to be notified when Dona Ana County Admin is hiring, or check their careers page.
Department careers page ↗Doña Ana County Fire Rescue is a combination fire department in which volunteer and career firefighters work side by side to deliver fire protection, emergency medical services, and specialized rescue across a large stretch of southern New Mexico. Fire Administration oversees four operational districts and a network of stations reaching from the Las Cruces area out to the East and South Valleys and the border communities near Santa Teresa and La Union.
The department is volunteer-heavy: it is staffed by approximately 300 volunteer firefighters supplemented by a smaller cadre of career firefighters. That structure lets it cover a broad rural and suburban service area, with stations in communities including Organ, Radium Springs, Rincon, Garfield, Mesquite, Anthony, Chaparral, and Santa Teresa.
Operations are headquartered on Portland Drive in Las Cruces. The department is currently led on an interim basis while the county works through a leadership transition, supported by a temporary agreement with the neighboring City of Las Cruces Fire Department.
Entry-level firefighter hiring runs through the county jobs page; when no positions are posted, candidates can submit an interest form to be notified of future openings, so recruitment is effectively continuous. Applicants must be at least 18, and no prior fire service experience is required for entry-level roles.
The process moves through a Physical Ability Test (PAT), a written exam, an EyeDetect screening, a panel interview, multi-part background checks, and a comprehensive medical evaluation before academy training begins. The department also runs practice PAT sessions at its Portland Drive facility to help candidates prepare. Volunteer firefighter opportunities are available separately.
Requirements
- Must be 18 years or older
- No prior fire service experience required for entry-level positions
- Must pass a Physical Ability Test (PAT)
- Must pass a written exam
- Must clear background checks (employment, education, criminal, and driving history)
- Must pass a comprehensive medical evaluation
Hiring process
- Submit application on the county jobs page (or an interest form when no openings are posted)
- Physical Ability Test (PAT)
- Written exam
- EyeDetect screening
- Panel interview
- Background checks (employment, education, criminal, driving history)
- Comprehensive medical evaluation
- Begin academy training
New hires complete academy training after clearing the medical evaluation; the department offers practice PAT sessions at 1430 Portland Drive to help applicants prepare.
What are the basic requirements to become a firefighter?
You must be at least 18 years old. No prior fire service experience is required for entry-level positions.
How do I apply if there are no openings posted?
When no positions are listed, you can complete an interest form to be notified of future openings; applications for active postings are submitted on the county jobs page.
What does the hiring process involve?
It includes a Physical Ability Test, a written exam, an EyeDetect screening, a panel interview, background checks, and a comprehensive medical evaluation before academy training begins.
Can I prepare for the Physical Ability Test?
Yes. The department holds practice PAT sessions at 1430 Portland Drive in Las Cruces; bring athletic attire and complete the required waiver.
Are there volunteer firefighter opportunities?
Yes. Doña Ana County Fire Rescue is a combination department staffed largely by volunteers, and it maintains a separate volunteer recruitment path in addition to career hiring.