Fire Department · Career
Conroe Fire Department
Conroe, TX · Montgomery County
155 professional firefighters and 4 civilian employees, operating out of 7 fire stations plus an administrative headquarters.
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗Conroe Fire Department is the fully-paid, career fire and EMS agency serving the City of Conroe, a fast-growing community of roughly 114,000 residents in Montgomery County, north of Houston. The department operates seven fire stations across the city plus an administrative headquarters at 700 Metcalf St., staffed by about 155 professional firefighters and four civilian employees under Fire Chief Paul D. Sims.
Beyond structural fire suppression, CFD crews are typically first on scene for medical emergencies citywide, stabilizing patients ahead of paramedic arrival, and the department maintains dedicated Wildland, HazMat, Technical Rescue, Swift/Flood Water Rescue, and Honor Guard teams. Call volume has climbed alongside the city's growth, from roughly 9,600 incidents in 2017 to over 11,000 in 2023, the large majority medical and rescue responses. A separate Fire Marshal's Office handles inspections, plan review, code enforcement, and public fire-safety education.
New firefighters come up through a civil-service hiring process built around a written entrance exam, a physical ability test, and a background/medical/psychological screening process, entering as Probationary Firefighters regardless of prior experience. Crews work a 24-hours-on/48-hours-off schedule, and pay follows a civil-service grade-and-step scale with added incentive pay for degrees and certifications.
MissionProtect and serve the citizens of Conroe and exceed their expectations.
The Conroe Fire Department is a civil-service department that hires through a formal, sequential selection process anchored by a written entrance exam and physical ability test. The department accepts applications at least annually, or sooner if a hiring list is exhausted, and posts upcoming exam dates on its recruiting page. All new hires enter as Probationary Firefighters and must independently hold (or obtain before a conditional offer) Texas Commission on Fire Protection Basic Firefighter and Texas DSHS Basic EMT certifications.
Requirements
- 18 to 35 years old (cannot reach 36th birthday by date of appointment)
- U.S. citizen; able to read, understand, and write English
- High school diploma or G.E.D. from an accredited institution
- Must obtain Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) Basic Firefighter certification and Texas DSHS Basic EMT certification before a conditional job offer
- Valid Texas driver's license at appointment; no license suspension in past 24 months
- No DWI/DUI conviction in past 5 years
- No felony convictions; no Class C+ misdemeanors within 5 years (excluding assault/family violence)
- Not currently on probation or parole; no pending criminal charges
- Corrected vision of 20/40 (uncorrected no worse than 20/200 each eye); normal hearing without a hearing aid
- No current illegal drug use; must pass a drug dependency exam and pre-employment drug/alcohol screen
Hiring process
- Submit a Letter of Intent to HR by the deadline in the job announcement
- Written entrance examination
- Physical ability test (typically ~2 weeks after the written exam)
- Probationary Firefighter application for preliminary eligibility determination
- Oral interview board (includes CFD members at all levels)
- Conditional job offer
- Complete Personal History Statement (PHS) and apply for Criminal History (CCH)
- Background investigation (interview, polygraph, employment/reference verification)
- Fire Chief / Assistant Fire Chief interview, if necessary
- Psychological examination
- Medical examination and drug/alcohol screening
Benefits
Cigna medical (80/20 in-network after deductible, with a choice of Kelsey Care or HSA plan), Cigna PPO dental, vision, and basic life insurance (1x base salary, supplemental available); a pension (employee 15.50% / city 16.25% contribution, vesting at 20 years, 10-year DROP option); optional Roth IRA and 457 deferred compensation; long-term disability coverage; flexible spending accounts; vacation accrual from 12 to 20 days by tenure; 10 hours/month sick leave; and 15 paid holidays per year. Incentive pay is available for degrees ($70-$125/month) and advanced fire/EMS certifications ($105-$263/month).
How often does Conroe Fire Department accept applications?
The CFD accepts applications at least annually, or sooner if a hiring list is exhausted.
What is the work schedule for firefighters?
24/48 (24 hours on duty followed by 48 hours off duty).
Are lateral transfers or prior firefighting experience recognized?
No, experience does not transfer; all hires begin as Probationary Firefighters.
Is Conroe residency required to apply?
No state or local residency requirements exist to apply or work there, though applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Does CFD have volunteer firefighter positions?
No, the CFD is a fully-paid career department, with no volunteer positions available.