Fire Department · Combination
Jacksonville Fire And Emergency Services
Jacksonville, NC · Onslow County
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Department careers page ↗Jacksonville Fire and Emergency Services traces its roots to 1913, when T.W. Brock was appointed the city's first fire chief following a 1906 depot fire that destroyed municipal records and spurred investment in hydrants and a hand pumper. The department grew from two volunteer companies in the 1920s into a fully career force, expanding from a single Chaney Street station through Mildred Street and eventually into a four-station system, with fire administration and Station 1 relocating to the Center for Public Safety on Marine Boulevard in 2014.
Today the department is accredited through the Center for Public Safety Excellence (its fifth accreditation came in 2023) and holds a Class 2 ISO Public Protection Classification, upgraded from Class 3 in 2020. Roughly 85 career firefighters, supported by administrative and part-time staff, respond to more than 12,000 emergency and non-emergency calls a year from Stations 1 through 4, running a fleet that includes six engines, a ladder truck, a quint, a rescue truck, four squads, boats, and an ATV.
Beyond structural fire response, the department fields specialized capabilities including HazMat, technical/urban search-and-rescue, tactical medic support, and fire investigation, alongside community programs such as child passenger seat checks, smoke detector installs, fire extinguisher training, and a senior-focused "Remembering When" outreach program.
Missionproviding excellent customer service through prevention, readiness, and response to threats of the lives and property of the people we serve.
Firefighter openings for Jacksonville Fire and Emergency Services are posted through the City of Jacksonville's central employment portal on GovernmentJobs.com. Candidates undergo a physical agility test (sit-ups, balance beam, wall jump, body drag/stretcher carry, ladder climb with hose raise, and a half-mile run, scored pass/fail) plus a medical examination assessing fitness, vision, hearing, cardiopulmonary function, and other health factors. New hires complete recruit training covering NFPA and North Carolina Fire Rescue Commission-mandated topics including fire behavior, forcible entry, ventilation, ladders, hose evolutions, live burn, and vehicle extrication.
Requirements
- Pass a timed physical agility test (sit-ups, balance beam walk, wall jump, body drag and stretcher carry, ladder/stair climb with hose raise, half-mile run)
- Pass a medical examination (fitness, vision, hearing, cardiopulmonary function, and general health screening)
- Sign a liability waiver prior to physical testing
Hiring process
- Apply online through the City of Jacksonville's GovernmentJobs.com careers portal
- Complete the physical agility test
- Complete the medical examination
- Complete recruit training (NFPA / NC Fire Rescue Commission curriculum)
Recruit training is administered by the department's Safety and Standards Division and covers fire department orientation and safety, fire behavior, portable extinguishers, PPE, forcible entry, ventilation, ladders, hose/streams/appliances, overhaul, water supplies, live burn, vehicle extrication, and mayday procedures, per NFPA and North Carolina Fire Rescue Commission standards.
How many calls does Jacksonville Fire and Emergency Services respond to each year?
The department handles more than 12,000 emergency and non-emergency calls annually.
What is the department's ISO Public Protection Classification?
The department holds a Class 2 ISO rating, upgraded from Class 3 in 2020.
How many fire stations does Jacksonville operate?
Four stations: Station 1 (200 Marine Boulevard, headquarters), Station 2 (1800 Gum Branch Road), Station 3 (190 Huff Drive), and Station 4 (1252 Marketplace Drive).
Is the department accredited?
Yes, it is internationally accredited through the Center for Public Safety Excellence, earning its fifth accreditation in 2023.
What specialized response capabilities does the department have?
HazMat response, technical/urban search-and-rescue, and tactical medic support, in addition to standard fire suppression and prevention.