Fire Department · Career
Los Alamos Fire Department
Los Alamos, NM · Los Alamos County
Operates five staffed stations plus a sixth (Station 2) used primarily for training, with a front-line fleet of 13 structural apparatus (paramedic engines, ladder trucks, and ambulances) plus cross-staffed wildland, hazmat, rescue, mobile command, and ARF
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗Los Alamos Fire Department traces its roots to April 1943, when the Manhattan Project's Project Y organized a small firefighting force of civilian and volunteer personnel to protect the secret Los Alamos laboratory site. The U.S. military ran fire protection for the community for decades until 1989, when governance transferred from the Department of Energy and Atomic Energy Commission to the newly Incorporated County of Los Alamos, establishing the modern county fire department.
Today LAFD is a career, all-hazards department covering Los Alamos County — a community regularly ranked among the healthiest in the nation, bordered by the Santa Fe National Forest and home to Los Alamos National Laboratory. Firefighters cross-train across fire suppression, EMS transport, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, wildland/urban interface firefighting, and aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF), reflecting the department's dual mission of protecting both the surrounding mountain community and the adjacent national laboratory campus.
Over the past several years the county has invested heavily in new infrastructure, building several new fire stations and continuing station construction, while the department has held an ISO Class 1 rating since January 2021 — a distinction reserved for a small fraction of U.S. fire departments.
LAFD hires Firefighter Recruits through the Los Alamos County Human Resources online application system. All firefighters are required to become licensed Emergency Medical Technicians and may advance to Paramedic. Selection runs candidates through written testing, a timed physical ability test, and a panel interview before extending an offer for a seat in the fire academy.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old at time of application
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license
- Written exam score of 70% or higher
- 1.5-mile timed run in 13:21 or less
- Criterion Task Test (CTT) completed in 6:59 or less while wearing bunker coat, helmet, gloves, and SCBA
- Passing background investigation and drug test
- Passing NFPA 1582 medical exam and fitness evaluation
Hiring process
- Submit online application through Los Alamos County Human Resources by the posted deadline, with fire/EMS certifications attached
- Written test (70% minimum to pass)
- Physical ability testing: timed 1.5-mile run and Criterion Task Test (CTT), usually scheduled over 3-4 consecutive days
- Panel interview
- Background investigation and drug screening
- Medical exam (NFPA 1582) and fitness assessment through LANL Occupational Medicine/Wellness
- Job offer for a seat in the fire academy
- Security clearance processing continues during the academy for access to the Los Alamos National Laboratory site
Recruits who pass all testing are offered a seat in the department's fire academy; candidates are encouraged to maintain or improve physical conditioning before the academy begins.
How do I become a firefighter with Los Alamos Fire Department?
Apply online through Los Alamos County Human Resources when a Firefighter Recruit-Entry Level posting is open, attaching any fire and EMS certifications. Candidates then complete a written test, a timed physical ability test (1.5-mile run and Criterion Task Test), a panel interview, background and drug screening, and a medical/fitness exam before being offered a seat in the fire academy.
What are the minimum requirements to apply?
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED, and have a valid driver's license. A full list of qualifications is included in the official Firefighter Recruit-Entry Level job posting.
Does Los Alamos Fire Department require EMT certification?
Yes. All Los Alamos firefighters are required to become licensed Emergency Medical Technicians, and many go on to become Paramedics.
What is the physical fitness test like?
Candidates must complete a 1.5-mile timed run (13:21 or faster) and a Criterion Task Test — five timed evolutions (stair climb with hose pack, rope hose hoist, Keiser sled, charged hose drag, and dummy drag) performed in bunker gear and SCBA within 6:59.
How many fire stations does Los Alamos Fire Department operate?
LAFD operates five staffed fire stations plus a sixth station (Station 2) that is unstaffed and used primarily for training.