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FIRE DEPARTMENT

Austin Fire Department

Protecting the Live Music Capital of the World since 1841

Austin, Texas
Est. 1841
A
1,300Personnel
0Stations
$0Starting Pay
0Calls / Year

About the Department

The Austin Fire Department protects Texas' capital city with over 1,300 personnel operating 53 stations across 7 battalions plus a Special Operations Battalion. AFD serves 885,400 residents across 272 square miles providing fire suppression, advanced life support, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, and water rescue. The department features the nation's first FAA-approved Robotics Emergency Deployment (RED) Team for drone-assisted emergency response.

Capabilities

Specialties & Capabilities

14 specialized units across 4 divisions

Operations

Full-service fire and EMS, all personnel are paramedics beyond probationary year

4
Structural Firefighting
Advanced Life Support
Wildland Firefighting
Airport Fire Operations

Technical Rescue

Specialized rescue in extreme environments

4
Technical Rescue
Dive/Water Rescue
Swift Water Rescue
High Angle Rescue

Prevention & Investigation

Fire prevention, investigation, and public safety partnerships

3
Hazardous Materials
Fire Investigations
Drone (RED) Team

Support & Community

Community engagement, education, and member wellness

3
Community Risk Reduction
Public Education
Honor Guard
14 total specializations

Compensation

Entry Salary$0
Top Step (7 yrs)$0
Overtime

24 hours on, 48 hours off with overtime based on hourly rate; Kelly Day rotation

Promotional & Incentive Pay

Paramedic certification: +$5,000-$12,000/yr
Longevity pay: $100/yr per year of service (max 25 years)
Specialty certifications available

Benefits Package

Health Insurance

Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and retirees

Austin Firefighters Retirement Fund

Established 1937. Vesting after 5 years. Rule-of-80 (age + service = 80) or age 65 with 5 years service. Medical benefits extend to vested retirees.

Paid Time Off

24-hour shifts with 48-hour off-time. Holiday, vacation, and sick leave packages.

Wellness & Fitness

Annual physicals through Public Safety Wellness Center with comprehensive health monitoring

Eligibility Requirements

Age18-35 on day of written exam
EducationHigh school diploma or GED
CertificationsMust be eligible for TCFP and DSHS certification; EMT certification may be required
FitnessCPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test): 8 continuous events including 3-minute stair climb with 25 lbs
BackgroundDrug/alcohol testing, criminal background check, disqualifying tattoo policy
CitizenshipU.S. citizen (birth or naturalized) with valid Social Security card

Education & Training

16-17 weeks

Recruit Academy

16-17 week academy (480 hours) covering TCFP basic fire suppression requirements with online and in-person components

Ongoing

Continuing Education

12 months CE within renewal period for first-year certificate holders; 40-hour basic wildland firefighter course available

Officer Development

Structured promotional pathway through Engineer, Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief

Community

Life in Austin, Texas

961,855Population
$500,000Median Home
103COL Index

Why Austin

State capital and 13th-most populous U.S. city with booming tech sector
Known as the Live Music Capital of the World with 250+ live music venues
Major employers include Dell, Apple, Tesla, Samsung, Oracle, Meta
Award-winning public parks system including Barton Springs and Lady Bird Lake
Top-ranked universities: UT Austin (Tier 1 research institution)
Year-round outdoor recreation with 300+ days of sunshine

Accreditations & Recognition

NFPA Compliant Operations
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