Demo

Firefighter

New Hanover County
Wilmington, NC Full Time
POSTED ON 12/16/2025 CLOSED ON 12/28/2025

What are the responsibilities and job description for the Firefighter position at New Hanover County?

New Hanover County is accepting applications for full-time firefighters, where duties include protecting life and property by responding to emergencies, securing the scene, extinguishing the fire, salvaging structures and their contents, and providing basic emergency medical care. Other duties include performing maintenance of fire stations, conducting fire pre-plans, and representing Fire Rescue to the public at various events.

New Hanover County Fire Rescue is comprised of a team of dedicated emergency response professionals who work to protect and educate citizens from the threats of fire and other emergencies. Our employees stay committed to the county's model of good governance working 24 hours a day in nine (9) fire/rescue stations, protecting 220 square miles of the county.

New Hanover County is dedicated to the recruitment and recognition of a talented and diverse workforce that is committed to public service. Our shared values of professionalism, innovation, equity, integrity, stewardship and accountability guide the way we conduct ourselves and deliver services to our customers. New Hanover County celebrates diversity in our employees’ backgrounds, beliefs, identities, and abilities, while supporting growth opportunities for all. Our talented team has a passion for providing care and services that effect change on the everyday lives of the citizens they encounter. The differences that unite us are a reflection of the community we serve. If this sounds like an organization that models the values you uphold, we invite you to join our team at New Hanover County.

* * * *

Hours

  • Rotating 24-hour shifts from 7AM-7AM, including weekends and holidays.
  • Must be available to work in emergency situation and report per established department policies.

Salary Information

The salary for this position begins at $48,678/year or $16.7624/hour. Salary does not reflect compensation for scheduled overtime and holidays. Salary will be determined based on qualifications, internal equity, budget, and market considerations.

New Hanover County Offers

  • Employer paid 401k contributions;
  • Retirement plan through the NC Retirement system;
  • Paid sick and personal leave 13 paid holidays per year;
  • Paid parental leave;
  • Paid community services leave to give back to our community;
  • Education leave to obtain a degree within your line of work;
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance many other insurance options;
  • Onsite, employer-paid health and wellness center;
  • Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives;
  • Opportunities to make a difference in your community;
  • And so much more!

Please check out our careers page at www.nhcgov.com/careers for more information on why New Hanover County is a great place to work.

Required Education And Experience

High School diploma or equivalent, with no experience needed; or an equivalent combination of training and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the specific position as listed above.

Licensing/Certification

Must be obtained no later than one (1) year of employment

  • North Carolina Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification.
  • Firefighter accredited certification through international Fire Services Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or ProBoard (NFPA 1001)
  • Emergency Vehicle Driver accredited certification through IFSAC or ProBoard.

Must be obtained no later than eighteen (18) month of employment

  • Technical Rescuer Vehicle accredited certification through IFSAC or ProBoard (NFPA Chapter 10) or Technical Rescuer Vehicle Machinery Rescue (VMR) accredited certification through IFSAC or ProBoard (NFPA Standard 1006, 2008).

Must be Obtained no later than two (2) years of employment

  • Technical Rescuer accredited certification through IFSAC or ProBoard (NFPA standard 1006, 2013 edition Chapters 5 & 6) or Technical Rescuer General accredited certification through IFSAC or ProBoard (NFPA standard 1003, 2008 edition) and Technical Rescuer Ropes accredited certification through IFSAC or ProBoard (NFPA Standard 1006, 2008 edition).

What Will Make Your Application Stand Out

Certifications in the following areas are highly preferred:

  • Firefighter accredited certification through IFSAC or Pro Board (NFPA 1001) or Firefighter II accredited certification through IFSAC or Pro Board (prior edition standard NFPA 1001);
  • NC or National Registry EMT Certification (if National Registry, NC EMT certification must be obtained within 1 year);
  • Technical Rescuer accredited certification through IFSAC or Pro Board (NFPA standard 1006, 2013 edition Chapters 5 & 6) or Technical Rescuer General accredited certification through IFSAC or Pro Board (NFPA standard 1006, 2008 edition) and Technical Rescuer Ropes accredited certification through IFSAC or Pro Board (NFPA standard 1006, 2008 edition);
  • Emergency Vehicle Driver accredited certification through IFSAC or Pro Board;
  • Technical Rescuer Vehicle accredited certification through IFSAC or Pro Board (NFPA Chapter 10) or Technical Rescuer VMR accredited certification through IFSAC or Pro Board (NFPA standard 1006, 2008).

Candidate Assessments scheduled may include but are not limited to:

  • Ergometrics Video Test
  • Physical Agility Assessment (For those in the Academy, this will be done during this time)
  • Panel Interviews
  • Practical Assessments (For those in the Academy, this will be done during this time)

Candidate References

  • Employment references will be conducted on all applicants being considered for hire. Candidates with previous military experience should attach a copy of their DD-214 (long form) to this application. This will be accepted as one of your employment references.

Application Requirements

  • Candidates are expected to thoroughly complete each relevant section of this application, including documentation of education and relevant experience necessary to determine qualifications. Incomplete information, partially complete information, or applications with omitted information may result in disqualification from the selection process.

If Applicable - Submitted application should include a Fire/EMS certification transcript in the attachments section of this application in order to be considered, if applicable. Please ensure that if you have a Fire/EMS certification transcript it is attached.

For Out Of State EMT Certifications

Please visit https://www2.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/EMS/resopros.htm and contact NC Office of EMS for specifics as legal recognition of your certification may require written testing, skills testing and/or additional training hours.

For Out Of State Fire Certifications

Please visit NC OSFM at https://www.ncosfm.gov/fire-rescue for specifics of state reciprocity. All certifications must meet the NC requirements listed above.

Salary : $17 - $48,678

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