Skip to content
FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fort Worth Fire Department

Where the West begins — protecting Fort Worth since 1873

Fort Worth, Texas
Est. 1873
FW
1,600Personnel
0Stations
$0Starting Pay
136,242Calls / Year

About the Department

The Fort Worth Fire Department protects the nation's 13th-largest city with approximately 1,600 firefighters and EMTs operating from 45 stations organized into 8 battalions. In 2022, the department responded to 136,242 calls including 82,781 medical, 4,275 fire, and 49,186 other emergency calls. FWFD provides fire suppression, advanced life support EMS, hazardous materials response, dive rescue, and technical rescue services across a rapidly growing metropolitan area.

Capabilities

Specialties & Capabilities

11 specialized units across 4 divisions

Operations

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

3
Structural Firefighting
Advanced Life Support
Wildland Firefighting

Technical Rescue

Specialized rescue in extreme environments

3
Technical Rescue
Dive/Water Rescue
Swift Water Rescue

Prevention & Investigation

Fire prevention, investigation, and public safety partnerships

3
Hazardous Materials
Fire Investigations
Fire Inspections

Support & Community

Community engagement, education, and member wellness

2
ARFF (Airport Rescue)
Community Risk Reduction
11 total specializations

Compensation

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

Department spent $32.1M on overtime in 2025; constant staffing overtime to maintain 4-person crews

Promotional & Incentive Pay

EMT-B certification required at hire
Civil service overtime for special events and disaster deployments
Acting pay when working above rank after 40 hours/week

Benefits Package

Health Insurance

Life, health, dental, and vision insurance through City of Fort Worth

FWERF Pension

Fort Worth Employees' Retirement Fund: vesting after 5 years. Rule-of-80 or age 65 with 5 years. Early retirement at age 50+ with reduced pension.

Paid Time Off

12-hour shifts (standard) or 24/48 pilot program. Holiday and vacation accrual.

Union Representation

Fort Worth Firefighters Association representation with collective bargaining

Eligibility Requirements

AgeMinimum 18 years
EducationHigh school diploma, GED, or 12 semester hours from accredited college
CertificationsEMT-B certificate required by Fire Academy start date
FitnessPhysical assessment test, aerobic capacity run, prolonged walking and lifting up to 100 lbs
ResidencyMust live within 30 minutes of designated station within 6 months of employment; Fort Worth residents receive 2 bonus points
BackgroundNo felony convictions; polygraph exam required

Education & Training

7 months

Recruit Academy

Approximately 7-month academy: 6 weeks EMT-B curriculum + fire school meeting TCFP requirements

State Certification

TCFP Basic Fire Suppression exam at end of academy; state firefighter examination required

Community

Life in Fort Worth, Texas

1,012,396Population
$340,000Median Home
99COL Index

Why Fort Worth

13th-largest city in the U.S. and one of the fastest-growing in Texas
Aerospace and aviation hub with major defense industry presence
Fort Worth Cultural District features world-class museums including Kimbell Art Museum
Lower cost of living than Austin and Dallas with comparable amenities
Historic Fort Worth Stockyards and vibrant downtown entertainment district
DFW International Airport within 20 minutes for global connectivity

Accreditations & Recognition

NFPA Compliant Operations
Get Started

Ready to serve with Fort Worth Fire Department?

Express your interest through Ready to Serve. Your information stays private until you choose to connect.

All contact goes through the Ready to Serve platform. Your personal information is never shared without your consent.