Fire Department · Combination
York County Department of Fire and Life Safety
Yorktown, VA · York County
Seven neighborhood stations (Stations 1-7) serving roughly 69,000 residents across 23,000+ households in York County's Historic Triangle region, plus daily visitors and tourists.
No active openings right now
Watch this department to be notified when York County Department of Fire and Life Safety is hiring, or check their careers page.
Department careers page ↗York County Department of Fire and Life Safety was organized in 1954 as the fire and rescue department for a suburban Virginia county in America's Historic Triangle, the region surrounding Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. Today the department protects roughly 69,000 residents across more than 23,000 households, plus the daily influx of commuters, workers, and tourists drawn to the area's historic sites, from seven neighborhood fire stations and a central administration and training facility.
The department is organized into four divisions - Administrative and Support Services, Fire and Rescue Operations, the Office of Emergency Management, and Prevention and Community Safety - and is unique among York County's government agencies in that its emergency operations run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Beyond structural fire suppression and EMS response, crews staff specialty programs including a Hazardous Materials Response Team, Technical Rescue Team, Maritime Incident Response Team, Tactical Paramedics, and an Honor Guard, alongside a heavy slate of public fire-and-life-safety education for schools, older adults, and the community at large.
York County fields both career members and trained volunteers, the latter graduating from the department's own Volunteer Basic Training School, giving newcomers to the fire service more than one path into the department.
MissionTo provide exemplary public safety with professionalism, integrity, and courage.
York County Fire and Life Safety recruits both career firefighters and volunteer members. Career openings are posted through York County's governmentjobs.com employment portal, where applicants can also subscribe for alerts on future firefighter, EMT, and paramedic postings; volunteers apply directly to the department with a Volunteer Membership Application and complete the department's Volunteer Basic Training School.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old
- U.S. citizen or legally authorized to work in the U.S.
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Pass a national criminal background check (certain convictions disqualify)
- Acceptable DMV driving record
- Successfully complete a physical agility test
- Sign a no-tobacco-use agreement, prohibiting tobacco product use at any time during employment
- Volunteers must additionally complete all courses required to graduate from the Volunteer Basic Training School
Hiring process
- Submit an application through the York County governmentjobs.com portal (career) or a Volunteer Membership Application (volunteer)
- Pass a national criminal background check and DMV record review
- Complete a physical agility test
- Sign the department's no-tobacco-use agreement as a condition of employment
- Volunteers complete Volunteer Basic Training School coursework
Volunteer members must complete all coursework required to graduate from York County's Volunteer Basic Training School.
How do I become a firefighter with York County Fire and Life Safety?
Career applicants apply through York County's governmentjobs.com employment portal (subscribing there for alerts when firefighter positions open) and must pass a background check, DMV review, and physical agility test. Those interested in volunteering instead submit a Volunteer Membership Application and complete the department's Volunteer Basic Training School.
What are the requirements to join York County Fire and Life Safety?
Applicants must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or legally authorized to work, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, pass a national criminal background check and DMV record review, complete a physical agility test, and sign a no-tobacco-use agreement covering the duration of employment.
Does York County Fire and Life Safety accept volunteer firefighters?
Yes. Volunteer members must meet the same age, citizenship, education, and background-check standards as career members and must complete all coursework required to graduate from the department's Volunteer Basic Training School.
Can I use tobacco products as a York County firefighter?
No. Career members must sign a no-tobacco-use agreement that prohibits using any tobacco products at any time while employed with the department.