Fire Department · Career
Beaufort Fire Department
Beaufort, NC · Carteret County
The Beaufort Fire Department is a combination career and volunteer service providing 24/7 fire protection to the Town of Beaufort, a historic coastal community on North Carolina's Crystal Coast serving a population of roughly 12,000 across an approximately 25-square-mile district.
The department has deep roots: the earliest record of an organized fire company in Beaufort dates to 1866 (the Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co.), later becoming the Robert E. Lee Fire Co. by 1907. Today it operates from two stations, a main station built in 2016 at 506 Live Oak Street and a second station built in 2013 on Highway 101.
Call volume has grown substantially over the years, from a few hundred annual calls in the mid-2000s to well over a thousand, driven largely by the department's Medical First Responder program launched in 2008.
The Beaufort Fire Department recruits both career and volunteer firefighters, with openings posted through the Town of Beaufort's GovernmentJobs portal. Volunteer members must hold a valid North Carolina Class B driver's license and obtain NC Firefighter I/II, NC EMT first responder, and Hazardous Materials Level I certifications within their first 12 months.
Prospective members complete an application through the town's careers site; questions about openings can be directed to the Fire Department at (252) 728-4325.
Requirements
- Valid North Carolina Class B driver's license
- Obtain NC Firefighter I/II certification within 12 months
- Obtain North Carolina EMT first responder certification within 12 months
- Obtain Hazardous Materials Level I certification within 12 months
- High school diploma/GED preferred, with fire service coursework or equivalent experience
- Able to perform strenuous physical tasks including lifting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally
Does Beaufort Fire Department hire career or volunteer firefighters?
It is a combination career/volunteer department and recruits both. Openings are posted through the Town of Beaufort's GovernmentJobs careers portal.
What certifications do I need to join?
New members must obtain NC Firefighter I/II, North Carolina EMT first responder, and Hazardous Materials Level I certifications within 12 months of joining.
What driver's license is required?
Applicants must possess a valid North Carolina Class B driver's license.
What is the training commitment for volunteers?
Volunteer members are required to complete a minimum of 36 hours of annual training, and members from outside the district must commit to at least 16 hours of in-house station time each month.
How do I apply?
Applications are submitted through the Town of Beaufort's careers site on GovernmentJobs. You can also contact the Fire Department at (252) 728-4325 with questions.