2026-1 Firefighter Recruit

Job Details

Description

ENTRY-LEVEL & EXPERIENCED FIREFIGHTER

Firefighter Recruit Wage $67,282

APPLICATION DUE 11/30/2025 midnight MST

South Metro Fire Rescue is accepting applications for Firefighter recruit to fill vacancies for our 2026-1 Academy.

Be advised, only applicants whose FireTEAM scores rank within the top 350 submitted to SMFR will be considered to move forward in the selection process.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Performs firefighting, emergency medical, and rescue work in emergency situations. Provides basic life support care under standard protocols and statutes. Maintains apparatus, vehicles, equipment, and fire stations. Employees are assigned to a field station and perform a wide variety of firefighting, emergency medical, and rescue techniques under direct and limited supervision.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must have High School diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED) by hire date of 4/3/2026.
• Must be 18 years of age by hire date of hire 4/3/2026.
• Valid FireTEAM test score through 11/24/2025.
• Valid CPAT certificate through application deadline of 11/30/2025.
• Possess or be able to obtain a Colorado driver's license by 4/3/2026.
• Possess and maintain an acceptable driving record in accordance with SMFR’s Driving Records Policy.
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check, criminal history review, physical, fitness/wellness assessment, medical evaluation, drug screen, and psychological exam, as well as a second CPAT (this will be paid for by SMFR).
• PLEASE NOTE: SMFR does not permit the use of marijuana including the previous 12 months from contingent offer regardless of whether it is legal in the state of Colorado. **
  
  

FireTEAM Test

• Complete the FireTEAM test by Monday, November 24, 2025.
• Select South Metro to view your scores.
• To schedule your test, please click here.
  
  

Cpat

Candidates are required to have a CPAT certificate that is valid and available to upload with their application. This certificate must be valid through November 30, 2025.

• Only a CPAT license by the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) or the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) will be accepted. South Metro Fire Rescue does not host the CPAT test. It is the candidate’s responsibility to obtain the certification on their own.
  
  

Out of State Locations:

National Testing Network

Colorado Locations:

Denver Fire Department

Aims Community College

Phone Interviews

After applications are submitted and reviewed, approximately 250 will be invited to a 15-minute phone interview with SMFR personnel.

Oral Board

After completion of phone interviews, successful candidates will be invited to oral boards.

TENTATIVE ACADEMY HIRING PROCESS TIMELINE

The hiring process timeline is subject to change at any time.

November 10, 2025

FireTEAM test and SMFR Application opens

November 24, 2025

FireTEAM test deadline

November 30, 2025

SMFR application deadline*

December 8th, 10th, 12th, 2025

Phone Interviews

January 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 2026

Oral Boards (required to be in-person)

Third week of January

Contingent Job Offers extended via email

Late-January to February

Pre-employment Testing (background check, psychological evaluation)

February 17-19, 2026

Fitness/wellness assessment, and second CPAT* (required to be in-person)

• CPAT will be paid for by SMFR
  
  

Late February, 2026

Final Job Offers

April 3, 2026

2026-1 Fire Academy New Employee Orientation

April 6, 2026

2026-1 Fire Academy Starts

• No exceptions will be made to the application deadline.
  
  

2026 Compensation

During academy, Firefighter Recruit Wage: $67,282

2026 Firefighter Wages

• Firefighter IV $81,543
• Firefighter III $94,357
• Firefighter II $104,841
• Firefighter I $116,490
  
  

Additional Compensation

• SMFR strongly values education and in turn, compensates employees who have a degree with an education differential from the date of hire as follows:
• Associates $1,000 annually
• Bachelors $3,000 annually
• Masters $5,000 annually
• Ph.D. $6,000 annually
  
  

Experienced Firefighters

• We value previous paid firefighter experience and are willing to compensate our new hires based on the paid experience they bring to SMFR.
• To qualify for experienced Firefighter pay upon completion of our academy, applicants must have at least 3 years of paid experience as a firefighter (within the last 12 months) with a full-time fire service agency whose primary responsibility is fire protection and emergency medical service, plus a 400-hour approved academy determined by SMFR.
  
  

Benefits

South Metro Fire Rescue’s compensation philosophy is designed to attract and retain highly skilled and motivated employees. As such, SMFR’s compensation is more than base pay. All regular full-time SMFR employees enjoy a total compensation package including base wages, leave accruals, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance employer-paid premiums, Retiree Health Savings, Death & Disability and employer-paid pension contributions as well as a positive work culture including a robust Fitness, Wellness and Rehabilitation Program, educational opportunities and support, job security and other positive non-monetary values which are intended to collectively position SMFR as an employer of choice in its geographic area. SMFR recognizes that being an employer of choice has different meanings to different people depending on what elements a person highly values. But SMFR's overall goal is to be a great place to work.

Contact Information

For all questions related to the Firefighter Hiring Process, please email employment@southmetro.org.

• South Metro Fire Rescue is an Equal Opportunity Employer**