Fire Department · Career
Irving Fire Department
Irving, TX · Dallas County
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Department careers page ↗The Irving Fire Department (IFD) protects the city of Irving, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, providing round-the-clock response to fire, medical, extrication, hazardous materials, and other emergencies. It operates from 12 strategically located stations and runs a large all-hazards operation across the city.
The department employs roughly 385 fire personnel (including civilian staff) on a general fund budget of about $55.7 million. Front-line resources include 12 engine companies, five aerial (truck) companies, and ten Mobile Intensive Care Units, reflecting a full EMS transport role alongside fire suppression.
IFD holds an Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 1 rating, the highest possible, placing Irving among a small group of U.S. municipalities to earn it after upgrades to infrastructure, staffing, equipment, and apparatus. Specialized capabilities include a Hazardous Materials Team (in service since 1982) based at Station 8 and a technical rescue / High Angle Rescue Team (HART, in service since 1993) based at Station 6.
Mission"The City of Irving Fire Department is dedicated to protecting lives, property and the environment through exceptional emergency response, fire prevention and public education."
Irving hires entry-level firefighters through a competitive civil service process governed by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 143. Candidates register for a firefighter entrance examination through the City of Irving; registrants are notified once an exam date is set. The process moves through a written/entrance exam into a physical agility test, polygraph examination, oral interview panel, and a medical examination.
The department also accepts lateral-entry firefighters. Lateral hires must already hold TCFP certification and meet the age, testing, and eligibility requirements of Chapter 143; their starting pay step is set by completed, unbroken years of certified fire service with any career department, up to a maximum of 3.5 years of credit on the Irving pay chart.
Requirements
- U.S. citizen
- Between 21 and 40 years of age
- High school diploma or GED
- Good driving record
- Clear arrest record
- Good credit rating
- Vision correctable to 20/20 and able to distinguish red, green, and yellow
- Good hearing in both ears
- Proof of discharge under honorable conditions (if prior military service)
Hiring process
- Register for and take the firefighter entrance examination
- Physical agility exam (performed in helmet, boots, gloves, and an approximately 50-lb weighted vest)
- Polygraph examination administered by an independent consultant
- Oral interview with a panel of fire department members
- Physical/medical examination including vision test, audiogram, and blood pressure check (psychological evaluation possible at the Fire Chief's discretion)
Benefits
Full-time firefighters receive competitive pay, health insurance, and retirement/pension benefits. The City states it aims to position pay within the 80th percentile of the municipal market.
Lateral-entry applicants must hold TCFP (Texas Commission on Fire Protection) certification; entry-level hires proceed through the department's academy and certification process.
What are the basic requirements to become an Irving firefighter?
You must be a U.S. citizen between 21 and 40 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED, and have a good driving record, a clear arrest record, and a good credit rating. Vision must be correctable to 20/20 with the ability to distinguish red, green, and yellow, and you need good hearing in both ears. Prior military service requires proof of an honorable discharge.
How do I apply?
Register for the firefighter entrance examination through the City of Irving. The City accepts registrations and notifies registrants once an exam date is set, after which qualified candidates move through the hiring process.
What does the hiring process involve?
After the entrance exam, candidates complete a physical agility test (in helmet, boots, gloves, and an approximately 50-lb weighted vest), a polygraph examination, an oral interview with a panel of department members, and a medical examination including vision, hearing (audiogram), and blood pressure checks, with a possible psychological evaluation.
Does Irving accept lateral-entry firefighters?
Yes. Lateral applicants must hold TCFP certification and meet the age, testing, and eligibility requirements of Texas Local Government Code Chapter 143. Starting pay is set by completed, unbroken years of certified fire service with any career department, up to a maximum of 3.5 years of credit on the Irving pay chart.
What is the pay and benefits like?
The City aims to position firefighter pay at roughly the 80th percentile of the municipal market and provides health insurance and retirement/pension benefits. Lateral hires receive step credit for prior certified service up to 3.5 years.
What specialized teams does the department run?
Irving operates a Hazardous Materials Team based at Station 8 and a technical rescue / High Angle Rescue Team (HART) based at Station 6, alongside full EMS transport via its Mobile Intensive Care Units.