Fire Department · Career
City Of Texarkana, Texas, Fire Department
Texarkana, TX · Bowie County
72 authorized positions in the Operations Division, supervised by a Battalion Chief per shift and a Captain per station.
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗The Texarkana Fire Department protects the city of Texarkana, Texas through three functional divisions: Administration, Operations, and the Building Life Safety Division. All uniformed personnel are certified through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as structural firefighters, and all are certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services to provide emergency medical care, most at the EMT-Basic level with some holding EMT-Intermediate, EMT-Paramedic, or Licensed Paramedic credentials.
The department's Operations Division runs five fire stations out of headquarters at 919 Elm Street, fielding three quints, two engines, two brush trucks, a support vehicle, and a Battalion Chief command unit. Crews work 24-hour shifts across three rotations to provide continuous fire suppression, rescue and extrication, and first-responder emergency medical coverage citywide; emergency medical transport itself is handled by a separate private provider, LifeNet, Inc.
Texarkana Fire is a full-time career department with no volunteer component, and firefighters are hired under the Texas civil service system (Chapter 143, Texas Local Government Code) rather than at-will hiring.
MissionTo protect the Citizens of Texarkana and their property from the dangers of fire and other hazardous conditions through public education, fire prevention, code enforcement, and professional emergency response. To prepare ourselves for response through regular, effective training. To protect ourselves through an effective safety program.
Firefighter hiring in Texarkana follows the Texas civil service process set out in Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code rather than standard municipal hiring. Applicants first take a written entrance exam and are ranked on an eligibility list by score; when a vacancy opens, the highest-scoring eligible candidate is considered first. The department is full-time career only — it does not have a volunteer division.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old at the time of the written entrance exam, and not yet 36 years old at the time of hiring
- Must pass the written civil service entrance exam and physical ability test
- Clean driving record and no criminal history; drug-free lifestyle
- Texas Commission on Fire Protection structural firefighter certification preferred but not required at time of hire
- Texas DSHS EMT-Basic certification (or higher) preferred but not required at time of hire
- Must pass a background investigation, polygraph exam, physical exam, and drug screen
Hiring process
- Written civil-service entrance exam
- Placement on a ranked eligibility list by exam score
- Physical ability test
- Background investigation, including a polygraph exam
- Oral interview review board
- Conditional offer of employment
- Physical examination, assessment, and drug screen
- Final interview with the Fire Chief
How do I become a firefighter with the Texarkana Fire Department?
Hiring follows Texas civil service rules (Chapter 143, Texas Local Government Code). Candidates first take a written entrance exam and are ranked on an eligibility list by score; when an opening occurs the top-scoring candidate is considered first, followed by a physical ability test, background investigation and polygraph, an oral review board, a conditional offer, a physical exam and drug screen, and a final interview with the Fire Chief.
What are the requirements to apply to the Texarkana Fire Department?
Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of the written exam and not yet 36 at the time of hire, have a clean driving record and no criminal history, and be physically fit enough to pass the physical ability test, physical exam, and drug screen. Texas Commission on Fire Protection and EMT certifications are preferred but not required at the time of hire.
Does the Texarkana Fire Department have a volunteer program?
No. The Texarkana Fire Department is a full-time career department and does not have volunteers.
How many fire stations does the Texarkana Fire Department operate?
The department's Operations Division runs five fire stations across the city, supported by a headquarters/administration building, staffed with three quints, two engines, two brush trucks, a support vehicle, and a Battalion Chief unit.