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 as well as participate in the custodial maintenance of fire station equipment, fire‑fighting 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.

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.

• Bessemer: $16.34 - 25.35
• Birmingham: $20.10 - 31.18
• Fairfield: $14.49 - 22.48
• Fultondale: $17.90 - 27.76
• Gardendale: $18.73 - 29.06
• Homewood: $19.07 - 29.57
• Hueytown: $16.35 - 25.37
• Irondale: $20.13 - 31.22
• Leeds: $18.25 - 28.30
• Midfield: $13.42 - 20.82
• Mountain Brook: $20.06 - 31.12
• Pleasant Grove: $17.33 - 26.89
• Tarrant: $16.50 - 25.60
• Vestavia Hills: $18.45 - 28.63

07/24/2026

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.

These qualifications may be considered by a hiring agency when reviewing applications and inviting candidates to participate in subsequent steps in the selection processes.

• Firefighter I
• Firefighter I/II
• Certified Volunteer Firefighter*

• 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 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 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 preserved for investigation, protecting property from unnecessary damage, and determining what debris should be left undisturbed to permit later investigation.
• Locates and removes victims from incident scenes by utilizing specialized rescue techniques and equipment for extrication of victims to minimize trauma, ensure life safety, and transport to the appropriate patient care facility.
• Participates in duties related to the maintenance and appearance of the fire station.
• Participates in formal and informal training, sessions, and drills to acquire the proper training needed to carry out…