Essex Junction
Fire Department
EST. 1893
In an emergency, call 911
JOIN THE FAMILY
REAL IMPACT.
REAL TRAINING. REAL PAY.
$17.50
Starting wage · two-hour minimum on every call
+$1 per hour for each certification you earn (Firefighter I & II, EMT, Advanced EMT).
No experience needed. New candidates with no fire experience go through the Chittenden County Basic Course.
Gear and classes are covered. The department provides every piece of equipment you need.
Pro-Board and nationally recognized certifications, plus EMS training up to Advanced EMT.
Paid bi-weekly. A foundation for a career in fire and EMS, or a way to give back where you live.
/ hour
WHAT IT TAKES
A short list of requirements. We will walk you through the rest.
01
Be 18 years old.
02
Able to read and write English effectively.
03
Live within responding distance of the station.
04
Complete rookie training through the Chittenden County Basic Course.
05
Complete the EJFD Candidate Checklist.
Medical and physical requirements follow OSHA and NFPA standards. The Essex Junction Fire Department is an equal opportunity employer.
MEMBERSHIP EXPECTATIONS
Respond to roughly 10% of fire calls per year (about 40 calls).
10 hours of department training each quarter.
Schools and certification courses count toward the training requirement.
No overlapping hours. Training hours cannot be double-counted across requirements.
666
TOTAL INCIDENTS IN 2025
67.5%
FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLS
32.5%
FIRST RESPONSE CALLS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GOOD TO KNOW
Q
DO I HAVE TO LIVE IN ESSEX JUNCTION?
No, but you must live within an approved responding distance of the station. Our members pride themselves on quick response times, so proximity matters.
Q
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING IS INVOLVED?
Members train across a wide range of skills: fire suppression, vehicle extrication, disaster response, alarm and CO detector response, and fire prevention education.
Q
DO I NEED PRIOR EXPERIENCE?
No. All the training you need is provided through the Chittenden County Basic Course and department training. Because the Basic Course runs only twice a year, in February and October, apply anytime and we will reach out before the next course to prepare you.
Q
WILL MY PRIOR TRAINING HELP?
Yes. Send any certifications with your application for the training Chief to review. If you meet our interior firefighting requirements, we can hire you any time of year.
Q
Yes. Members are paid on-call firefighters and receive an hourly wage for calls, starting at $17.50/hr with a two-hour minimum and pay increases for certifications, additional responsibilities and promotions.
Q
ARE THE REQUIREMENTS THE SAME FOR EVERYONE?
Yes. Medical and physical requirements follow OSHA and NFPA standards, and the department is an equal opportunity employer.