LATERAL FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC

POSITION INFORMATION

TMFPD Lateral Firefighter/Paramedic Recruitment

Open Competitive Recruitment

Lateral Firefighter/Paramedic

Bring Your Experience. Build Your Future.

Join the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and serve one of Northern Nevada's fastest-growing communities while building your career with an organization committed to operational excellence, professional development, and employee well-being.

Are You Eligible for Lateral Entry?

Applicants must have completed their Firefighter probationary period with their current employer and have at least one year of current, full-time, continuous employment as a Firefighter/Paramedic. The experience must be with a public fire district, agency, authority, or department that provides all-risk Fire/EMS services.

More Than a Job. A Career Worth Building.

TMFPD offers a combination of retirement value, comprehensive benefits, professional opportunities, employee support, and quality of life that makes Northern Nevada an exceptional place to build the next chapter of your fire service career.

Nevada PERS Retirement

The salary posted is the salary paid. The employee's required Nevada PERS contribution is paid outside of the posted salary in accordance with the current collective bargaining agreement.

If a future employee contribution-rate increase exceeds 3%, the District pays the first 3% of the increase, and any amount above 3% is shared equally between the District and the employee.Financial Advantages of Working in Nevada

No Nevada state income tax on salaries or wages.

Employees in positions covered by Nevada PERS are not subject to the 6.2% Social Security (OASDI) payroll tax on their TMFPD wages. Medicare withholding still applies as required by federal law.

Qualifying owner-occupied primary residences generally receive a 3% annual cap on increases to the property-tax bill.Comprehensive Employee Benefits

TMFPD provides medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid leave, retirement benefits, holiday benefits, and additional programs designed to support employees and their families throughout their careers.Strong Peer Support Network

TMFPD maintains a strong Peer Support network focused on firefighter wellness, confidential support, resilience, and connecting members with appropriate resources when needed.

Life Outside the Firehouse

Reno places you within easy reach of alpine lakes, high-desert recreation, skiing, fishing, hiking, water recreation, live performances, concerts, and year-round events throughout Northern Nevada and the Sierra.

Lake Tahoe

Beaches, boating, paddle sports, hiking, mountain scenery, and year-round recreation within easy reach of Reno.Pyramid Lake

A dramatic high-desert lake north of Reno known for scenery, recreation, and renowned Lahontan cutthroat trout fishing.Ski Country

Multiple Sierra ski areas provide convenient access to downhill skiing and snowboarding throughout the winter season.Hiking & Trails

From high-desert trails to the Tahoe Rim Trail, the region offers extensive hiking and mountain recreation.Water Recreation

Summer brings boating, water skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and lake days throughout the Tahoe region.Arts & Entertainment

Reno offers live theater, touring productions, concerts, festivals, sporting events, dining, and year-round entertainment.

Fishing Close to Home

The Truckee River, Pyramid Lake, Lake Tahoe, and surrounding mountain waters provide a wide range of fishing opportunities within the region.

Grow Your Career

TMFPD members may have opportunities to develop specialized capabilities, support regional operations, and pursue assignments beyond regular company responsibilities.

Hazardous Materials

Advanced technical training and opportunities to support hazardous-material incident response.Rapid Extraction Module Support

REMS assignments supporting firefighter rescue in remote and complex incident environments.Incident Command Development

Opportunities to build Incident Command System qualifications and expand operational leadership experience.Off-District Wildland Overhead Deployments

Qualified members may pursue off-district overhead assignments supporting large and complex wildland incidents.

Lateral Entry Requirements

Required Experience

• Graduation from high school or equivalent education.
• Completion of the Firefighter probationary period with the applicant's current employer.
• At least one year of current, full-time, continuous employment as a Firefighter/Paramedic. The one year of experience may include probationary time.
• Experience with a public fire district, agency, authority, or department that provides all-risk Fire/EMS services.

Required at Time of Application

• Valid driver's license.
• State of Nevada or National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Paramedic certification.
• CPR certification with a hands-on skills assessment.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) or Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) certification.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.
• Current Firefighter I certification meeting NFPA, IFSAC, ProBoard, or equivalent standards.

Required Documentation

Applicants must attach documentation supporting all required licenses and certifications to the application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that each attachment is current, legible, and successfully uploaded.

Required After Appointment or by Completion of the Lateral Academy

• Successfully complete the District's Lateral Academy.
• Obtain Firefighter II certification meeting NFPA standards by the end of the academy.
• Possess NWCG S-130 and S-190 certifications by the end of the academy.
• Obtain a Nevada Class C driver's license with an F endorsement, or equivalent, within six months of appointment.

Recruitment Details

 Salary RangeAll lateral candidates with at least one year of experience will begin at $28.98/hour; additional experience may qualify for a higher step placement.Application DeadlineSeptember 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.Firefighter Skills Assessment (In-Person)Tentatively September 29 - October 1, 2026EMS Skills Assessment (In-Person)Tentatively September 29 - October 1, 2026Oral Board Interviews (In-Person)Tentatively September 29 - October 1, 2026Estimated Start DateTentatively January 4, 2027 (Beginning of 8-week District Lateral Academy)

Dates are tentative and subject to change. The skills assessments and oral board components may be combined or conducted in a different order. Applicants selected to continue in the process will receive additional scheduling information.

Position Overview

Under general supervision, the Firefighter/Paramedic performs firefighting activities in combating, extinguishing, and preventing fires; provides advanced emergency medical care; responds to emergency and public-assistance incidents; and performs related work as required.

• Respond to structure, wildland, rescue, medical, hazardous-material, and public-assistance incidents.
• Provide advanced emergency medical care at the paramedic level.
• Operate specialized firefighting, rescue, EMS, and wildland equipment.
• Participate in training, fire prevention, public education, and station activities.
• Prepare and maintain records, maps, and reports.

Anticipated Hiring Process

Application ReviewSkills Assessment and InterviewBackground InvestigationMedical and Pre-Employment Requirements

Lateral applicants will be required to successfully complete firefighter and paramedic skills assessments prior to appointment. The selection process may also include one or more interviews, a physical abilities test, background investigation, medical examination, and other pre-employment requirements. The order and format of selection components may vary.

Application Instructions

Submit a complete application by the stated deadline. Attach all required licenses and certifications.

Applications that do not demonstrate the required lateral experience or do not include the required supporting documentation may be considered incomplete.

Photo credits: Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe — Blake Everett, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons; Pyramid Lake — Rhalden, public domain via Wikimedia Commons; Tahoe skiing — Tahoe Signature Properties, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons; Tahoe Rim Trail — AT2663, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons; Zephyr Cove — Don Graham / inkknife_2000, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons; Pioneer Center — Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Protect the Community. Build Your Career. Live the Lifestyle.

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Does Not Discriminate on the Basis Of Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, Age, Disability or National Origin in the Activities and/or Services Which it Provides. EOE.