Fire Department · Combination
Dallas Fire Department
Dallas, OR · Polk County
16 career · 12 volunteer firefighters
Apply by July 16, 2026 for a Firefighter/Paramedic role with an annual salary of $54,861-$55,952. Requires EMT and Paramedic certifications, CPAT, and ICS training.
Apply by June 9 for a Paramedic role with an open salary range. Requires Oregon Paramedic license, valid driver's license, no felonies in the past seven years.
The City of Dallas Fire & EMS Department has protected Dallas, Oregon since 1878, and for most of that history the community's fire and medical care came from its own volunteer citizens. Today it is a combination department: career firefighter EMT/paramedics work alongside volunteer firefighters, support volunteers, and flexible-schedule EMS staff, headquartered at 915 SE Shelton St.
The response area totals roughly 239 square miles: 4.8 inside the City of Dallas, 123 in the Southwestern Polk Rural Fire Protection District, and an additional 111.2 of ambulance service area covering Dallas, Rickreall, Falls City, and the surrounding rural communities — an estimated 28,500 people served with emergency medical services.
The EMS system provides advanced life support around the clock, from on-scene critical care to interfacility transfers, staffing two medic units with a fully equipped third on standby. The department also runs FireMed, an annual-fee ambulance membership program for households in its service area.
MissionWe protect our communities from the adverse effects of fire and medical emergencies, and other hazardous situations.
The City of Dallas posts fire and EMS openings on its GovernmentJobs.com portal, and recent recruitments have run continuously with best-consideration dates rather than hard deadlines. Career firefighters are hired as firefighter/paramedics: postings require an Oregon Paramedic license plus DPSST Firefighter I and Driver Operator certifications, NWCG Firefighter Type 2, and ICS 100/200/700 at hire.
Because the department operates the local ambulance service, it also hires single-role paramedics and EMTs, including transfer-ambulance EMT positions staffed in partnership with the local hospital. A volunteer division offers a separate entry path for residents of Dallas and its urban growth boundary.
Requirements
- 18 years or older with a high school diploma or GED
- Valid driver license with an acceptable driving record
- Oregon Paramedic license in good standing with the Oregon Health Authority
- DPSST Firefighter I and DPSST Driver Operator certifications
- NWCG Firefighter Type 2 certification
- ICS-100, ICS-200, and ICS-700 certifications
- Pass an annual medical physical based on NFPA Standard 1582
- DPSST Apparatus Operator/Pumper certification within 12 months of hire
Hiring process
- Submit an application through the City of Dallas portal on GovernmentJobs.com
- Application review — postings list a best-consideration date and remain open until filled
- Criminal history and driving record check
- Department physical fitness standards, psychological exam, and medical physical
Benefits
City of Dallas job postings list a complete benefits package for full-time employees:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Life and long-term disability insurance
- Oregon PERS retirement
- Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave
- Deferred compensation plans
Can I volunteer with Dallas Fire & EMS?
Yes. Volunteers must be 18 or older, have a high school diploma or GED, live within the City of Dallas or its urban growth boundary, hold a valid Oregon driver license, pass a criminal background check, and meet the department fitness standard. Roles include suppression firefighter, support services, special services, and chaplain.
Who leads Dallas Fire & EMS?
April Wallace serves as the Fire and EMS Chief, supported by an administration that includes a Deputy Fire Chief and an EMS Division Chief.