Firefighter

Job Summary

Firefighters in the Merit System work to combat, extinguish, and prevent fires. Employees in this job class respond to emergency medical calls, rescue operations, and a variety of non‑emergency calls to protect lives and property and participate in custodial maintenance of fire station equipment, apparatus, rescue vehicles, and quarters. Firefighters spend time studying methods and techniques, and perform routine duties in the care and maintenance of fire department property and equipment.

The work is performed within established policies and procedures and is reviewed by a Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, Fire Chief, or through performance evaluations.

Agencies provide competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer‑sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more. Applications for this position will be considered for the following Merit System employing agencies. The pay range for this job varies depending upon the Merit System employing agency.

• Bessemer: $16.02 - $24.85
• Birmingham: $20.10 - $31.18
• Fairfield: $14.49 - $22.48
• Fultondale: $17.22 - $26.70
• Gardendale: $18.73 - $29.06
• Homewood: $19.07 - $29.57
• Hueytown: $16.35 - $25.37
• Irondale: $19.58 - $30.37
• Leeds: $18.25 - $28.30
• Midfield: $13.15 - $20.40
• Mtn. Brook: $20.06 - $31.12
• Pleasant Grove: $16.50 - $25.59
• Tarrant: $16.50 - $25.60
• Vestavia Hills: $18.45 - $28.63

04/13/2026

Grade 19

Full time

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must have a high school diploma or a G.E.D. certificate.
• No felony convictions.
• Driver's license.

• (Pro Board or IFSAC) Certified Firefighter I or Firefighter I/II as recognized by Alabama Fire College.

Individuals possessing one of the following certifications issued by a Pro Board or IFSAC accredited organization (e.g., The Alabama Fire College) may be allowed to exempt the written examination and be placed directly onto the Firefighter list upon verification of the certification:

• Firefighter I
• Firefighter I/II
• Certified Volunteer Firefighter*
• Note that individuals who are hired with this VFF certification will be required to complete the five‑week Bridge program through the Alabama Fire College in order to obtain the Firefighter I certification.

• Administers non‑invasive healthcare to patients/victims by following accepted medical guidelines and using specialized medical equipment for treating various health‑related conditions.
• Ensures proper operation and readiness of apparatuses, equipment, and personal gear used for incident response by performing scheduled cleaning, inspections, and maintenance to enable safe and effective incident response and mitigation.
• Conducts fire safety activities for the general public that are designed to reduce the risk of fire related incidents from occurring and enhance awareness of general fire safety precautions.
• Deploys fire hoses of varying diameters with different nozzle specifications and incorporates available appliances into fire suppression activities.
• Carries out officer/incident commander’s fire suppression orders by following incident response guidelines to extinguish the fire and ensure life safety of victims.
• Operates aerial or ground ladder during ladder operations while accounting for situational variables to complete operations.
• Assists in developing pre‑fire plans for businesses, public buildings, and residences to include surveying buildings, collecting information regarding hazardous materials, occupancy, hydrant location, etc. to prevent and/or minimize damage and losses caused by fire‑related incidents.
• Participates in activities that project a positive image of the department to the public by attending off‑site facilities or hosting visitors at the station to conduct trainings, tours, and other community‑related activities.
• Operates fire apparatus pump system during incidents requiring water using the control panel to enable fire suppression activities.
• Minimizes property loss from incidents by inspecting the scene, assessing what areas of the incident should be…