Fire Department · Combination
Graham Fire Department
Graham, NC · Alamance County
combination department (career, part-time, and volunteer)
Graham Fire Department (GFD) serves the City of Graham, North Carolina, a community of about 17,000 people in Alamance County. It operates as a combination department, blending career, part-time, and volunteer personnel to deliver fire suppression, vehicle extrication, water rescue, and emergency response.
The career roster includes 17 firefighters working an A/B/C rotating shift schedule, supported by roughly 18 part-time staff and 27 volunteers, along with retirees and an auxiliary membership. Command staff include the Fire Chief, an Assistant Chief, and a Fire Inspector.
The department carries a Class 3 ISO Public Protection Classification and emphasizes preparedness, professionalism, and quality customer service, alongside fire prevention and community life-safety education.
Mission"to protect the lives, property, and environment of all people within Graham by preventing the occurrence and minimizing the adverse affects of fires, accidents, and all other emergencies."
Graham FD recruits volunteer and part-time firefighters through an interest-card process: prospective members must submit a volunteer interest form before any formal application is accepted ("The fire department does not accept application without first filling out an interest card"). The formal application is handled through the city's governmentjobs.com careers portal.
Applicants must be at least 18, hold a valid NC driver's license, and live within the city limits or no more than two miles outside. New members can complete daytime fire academy training to the NC Firefighter II level through Alamance Community College, and the department holds in-house training multiple times each month.
Requirements
- Minimum age 18
- Live within Graham city limits or no more than 2 miles outside
- Valid NC driver's license with a good driving record
- High school diploma or GED
- No felony convictions or misdemeanors involving moral turpitude
- No illegal drug use in the past 12 months
- Meet NFPA 1582 medical standards
- Pass a background check and drug screening
- Provide proof of residency
Hiring process
- Fill out a volunteer/interest card (required before any application is accepted)
- Submit the formal application through the governmentjobs.com careers portal
- Pass background check and drug screening
- Complete required firefighter training (minimum 36 hours annually; academy to NC Firefighter II available through Alamance Community College)
Benefits
Volunteers receive stipends for incident and training attendance, plus access to supplemental retirement/benefit plans, skill development, educational opportunities, and professional networking.
Daytime fire academy training to the NC Firefighter II level is available through Alamance Community College; the department also holds in-house training at least three times monthly.
How do I apply to join Graham Fire Department?
You must first fill out a volunteer interest card; the department does not accept applications without one. The formal application is then submitted through the city's governmentjobs.com careers portal.
What are the basic requirements to become a firefighter here?
You must be at least 18, hold a valid NC driver's license with a good record, have a high school diploma or GED, live within the city limits or no more than two miles outside, have no felony convictions, and pass a background check, drug screening, and NFPA 1582 medical standards.
Is this a career or volunteer position?
Graham FD is a combination department. The recruitment page focuses on volunteer (and part-time) firefighters who receive stipends for incidents and training; the department also employs 17 career firefighters.
What training will I need?
Members complete a minimum of 36 hours of firefighter training per year. Daytime academy training to the NC Firefighter II level is available through Alamance Community College, and the department offers in-house training at least three times a month.
What schedule do career firefighters work?
Career staff work an A, B, and C rotating shift schedule, commonly referred to as the "3-4" schedule.
Do I have to live in Graham?
Yes. Firefighters must live within the city limits or no more than two miles outside, and proof of residency is required.