Fire Department · Career
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire
Lancaster, PA · Lancaster County
Operates three engine companies and one truck company.
No active openings right now
Watch this department to be notified when Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire is hiring, or check their careers page.
Department careers page ↗Lancaster City Bureau of Fire traces its roots to April 1, 1882, when the city organized a paid department with four engine companies, one truck company, 38 firefighters and a single fire chief. Today the bureau runs three engine companies and one truck company staffed by 74 uniformed personnel operating around the clock out of three city fire stations.
The bureau protects roughly 60,000 residents across Lancaster's 7.3 square miles, answering approximately 3,855 calls a year. Beyond emergency suppression, its Fire Marshal division reduces fire risk through inspections, permitting and licensing, smoke-detector installation, and public education, while Administrative Services, Maintenance, and Special Operations divisions support day-to-day readiness.
New firefighters join through a civil-service hiring process that opens for online applications in April of odd-numbered years, generating an eligibility list that can be used for up to two years to fill vacancies. Recruits must earn or hold EMT certification and complete Fire Academy training at HACC before rotating into the department's four-platoon shift schedule.
Lancaster City Bureau of Fire hires through a civil-service process administered with the city's Civil Service Commission. Applications are accepted online only during a single window in April of odd-numbered years (next window: April 1-30, 2027); candidates then sit a written exam, oral interview, and physical ability test to be placed on a ranked eligibility list good for up to two years.
Requirements
- U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old at appointment
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Valid motor vehicle license
- Must reside within Lancaster County upon being sworn in
- Must currently hold, or be able to pass and maintain, National Registry EMT certification
Hiring process
- Attend an information session or contact the bureau with questions
- Complete the online application during the April application window
- Register and pay a $65 fee to take the written exam (Public Safety Self-Assessment + FireTEAM), scoring at least 70%
- Pass an in-person oral interview (June/July) with a minimum score of 70%
- Pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) - eight simulated fireground tasks in a 50 lb weighted vest within 10:20
- Complete background investigation, psychological evaluation, and medical exam
- Attend the HACC Fire Academy (14 or 20 weeks depending on existing EMT status) followed by a six-month probationary period
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision insurance with HSA/FSA options; $50,000 of employer-paid life insurance; a city pension plus optional 457(b) deferred compensation; paid holidays, vacation, and sick time that grows with tenure; a wellness program with quarterly incentives; paid ongoing training; and eligibility for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
New hires attend the HACC Fire Academy - 20 weeks for candidates without EMT certification, or a shorter track for those who already hold it - commuting Monday-Friday to Harrisburg, with recruits reporting from 0630 to 1730 (longer on live-burn days).
When does Lancaster City Bureau of Fire accept firefighter applications?
The application period runs April 1-30 of odd-numbered years (2025, 2027, 2029, etc.); the next window opens April 1-30, 2027.
What are the minimum requirements to become a Lancaster City firefighter?
Candidates must be U.S. citizens at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid driver's license, Lancaster County residency upon being sworn in, and either current EMT certification or the ability to obtain and maintain it through the National Registry.
Does Lancaster City Bureau of Fire offer hiring preference points?
Yes - up to 10 points for honorably discharged veterans, up to 9 points for years of consecutive city residency, and 5 points for demonstrated bilingual ability, with non-veterans able to combine residency and bilingual points.
What training is required to become a Lancaster City firefighter/EMT?
Recruits attend the HACC Fire Academy, a 20-week program (shorter for candidates who already hold EMT certification), before starting a six-month probationary period with the bureau.
What work schedule do Lancaster City firefighters work?
Firefighters work a four-platoon system of two 10-hour day shifts followed by two 14-hour night shifts, then four consecutive days off.