Firefighter Recruit (Academy - Entry Level)

Our Organizational Culture: The Town’s vision is that Wake Forest’s vibrant, diverse, and welcoming community fosters its distinct character, thriving economy, and high quality of life. 

Opportunities for Professional Development:We are committed to investing in our employees' growth through training, workshops, conferences, and other opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills in Human Resources.

Competitive Benefits Package:The Town of Wake Forest offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance, long-term and short-term disability programs, retirement plan, paid time off, volunteer leave, paid parental leave, paid elder care leave, non-matching required 401k contributions, longevity pay bonuses, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and more. 

• Attends, participates, and successfully completes all training sessions, required certifications, physical training, scenarios, skills assessments, and other assigned duties and task.
• Performs rigorous physical training. 
• Performs rigorous fire training.
• Acquires the knowledge of and operation of all types of apparatus, tools, and equipment in use in the department. 
• Understands and carries out oral and written directions. 
• Will refer all official matters relating to the department to the Training Division or Academy Staff. 
• Will be courteous and helpful in his/her interactions with the public. 
• Will strictly observe a high standard of cleanliness of person and surroundings. 
• Will give courteous attention when a ranking officer of the department, any local, state, or other public official, or citizen is in their presence. 
• Will perform his/her duties as safely and efficiently as possible, always considering and guarding the welfare and safety of his/her fellow firefighters and all others. 
• Will report to work on time as designated by Academy Staff. 
• Will report to work in accordance with academy dress code and departmental grooming policy. 
• Will adhere to any rules, regulations, guidelines, policies, and standards of conduct set forth by Town Administration or Wake Forest Fire Department and Academy Staff. 
• Speaks clearly and learns standard radio procedures for Wake Forest Fire Department. 
• Must be able to communicate with others, in person and radio communications, in English. 
• Learns to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of employment; learns principles and practices of effective interpersonal communication and good customer service. 
• Learns to understand, interpret, and apply knowledge, skills, and abilities as it pertains to the fire service. 
• Supports the town’s mission, goals, policies and objectives; delivers outstanding internal and external customer service; solve problems and communicate effectively with the public and fellow employees.  
• Supports the department’s core values of: Duty, Honor, Pride, Integrity, Courage, Family, and Professionalism. 
• Maintains a moral, ethical, and legal standard commensurate with the Fire Service Code of Ethics. 
• Willing to work irregular hours to include weekends and holidays (shift work). 
• Responds with personnel, equipment, and apparatus to fire, emergency medical, hazardous materials and rescue incidents as assigned. 
• May respond on an engine, ladder or rescue unit and perform duties such as: stretching hose lines, manipulating nozzles and directing streams of water, climbs aerial and ground ladders, conducts forcible entry, ventilates structures, utilizes handheld fire extinguishers, utilizes hand-tools, pneumatic tools, hydraulic tools, utility and rescue rope and other equipment. 
• Provides emergency medical care and assistance to sick and injured persons; removes entrapped victims from motor vehicle accidents and other hazardous situations; assists with loading and may participate in the transportation of sick and injured persons to appropriate medical facilities. 
• Performs rescue type operations involving water, high and low angle, trench, collapse, search, and confined space. 
• Performs salvage operations; throwing tarps, removing water and debris. 
• Wears protective clothing including self-contained breathing apparatus, while making entry into burning and smoke-filled structures to perform firefighting operations. 
• Assists in maintaining fire apparatus and equipment, and cleaning firehouse and the firehouse grounds. 
• Maneuvers and connects hose from engine; climb ladders, use fire extinguishers and other mechanical equipment as required; ensures that assigned hand tools and other equipment are on the apparatus and are in good working order. 
• Performs inspections and preventative maintenance on hydrants. 
• Conducts pre-incident surveys. 
• Assures readiness of equipment and apparatus. 
• Work may require additional training and associated duties for assignment to the Ladder Company or other specialized apparatus. 
• Completes duties in accordance with department SOG/SOP’S. 
• Responds punctually to alarms and to all assignments. 
• Safely operates a motor vehicle for the purpose of conducting official duties of the Town of Wake Forest Fire Department. 
• Participates in the development of departmental SOG/SOP’s and periodically reviews their relevance to departmental goals and objectives. 
• Addresses critical fireground safety hazards. 
• Communicates effectively with the command center and personnel, conveying unusual conditions and/or dynamics of an incident. 
• Attends in-service classes in firefighting, emergency medical service, and related duties to ensure that minimum company standards are maintained.  
• Participates in physical fitness activities to maintain physical conditioning. 
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance in accordance with leave policies. 
• Demonstrates superior seamless customer service, integrity, and commitment to innovation, efficiency, and fiscally responsible activity. 
• May be required to move to other companies or stations on a daily basis, based on staffing needs. 
• Performs other tasks or duties as required. 
• Upon successful completion of WFFD Academy instruction and graduation, the employee will receive further training and education, as an Introductory Firefighter.

• Knowledge of, and skills in, applying principles, practices and methods of modern fire suppression techniques and technical rescue techniques.
• Knowledge of fire department policies, procedures, rules, and regulations
• Knowledge of North Carolina motor vehicle laws and Emergency Vehicle Driver rules and regulations
• Knowledge of the geographical layout of the Wake Forest Fire District, street names and numbers, and hydrant locations.
• Knowledge of Emergency Medical techniques.
• Possess good working knowledge of personal computers and experience with Microsoft Office software and should be familiar with Firehouse software
• Ability to work with a minimum amount of supervision
• Ability to recognize and correct safety hazards for firefighting personnel
• Ability to determine the need for apparatus and equipment repair and maintenance
• Ability to understand and carry out complex oral and written instructions
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, to groups and to individuals
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in an emergency situation and to determine the proper course of action
• Ability to report for work on time, complete assigned tasks within a reasonable period of time and perform the duties of the job for a complete workday
• Ability to concentrate and accomplish tasks despite interruptions
• Ability to effectively communicate on two-way radio system
• Ability to properly operate office equipment such as telephones, calculators, computers, and copy machines
• Ability to read and write at a high school graduate level
• Must be proficient in intermediate math skills
• Ability to tolerate extreme fluctuations in temperature while performing job duties.
• Ability to work for long periods of time, requiring sustained rigorous physical activity and intense concentration.
• Ability to work in a variety of weather conditions with exposure to the outdoor elements.
• Ability to make fine, highly controlled muscular movements to adjust the position of control mechanisms such as operating levers, pedals, and valves.  This also pertains to donning and doffing PPE, carrying required equipment per assignment, and entering and exiting apparatus safely with required PPE.
• Ability to understand apparatus limitations as related to apparatus response and fire suppression activities.
• Ability to pass an annual SCBA fit test with minimal accommodations   
• Ability to pass the Fire Ground Endurance Assessment for your age bracket before graduating the academy.
• Ability to perform suppression or rescue activities in extreme environments to include but not limited to: extreme temperatures, zero visibility, and IDLH atmospheres.
• Ability to successfully ascend/descend and perform task on various size ladders to include ascending/descending 105’ open aerial ladder.
• Must be able to maneuver through and perform required task in an environment of confinement no less than 18 inches in diameter.   
• Must posses the ability to perform rigorous physical training to include but not limited to an unspecified amount of push-ups, sit-ups, squats, leg raises, and running.  Other rigorous physical training requirements may be assigned by Academy Staff as needed.

• The Academy Recruit Firefighter requires no previous work experience
• Candidates must be 18 years old to enter the program
• Candidates must posses a valid Class C Driver License
• Candidates must be able to pass the Wake Forest Fire Department Fireground Endurance Assessment 
• Preference will be given to candidates who have graduated from a Community College or a four-year College or University program.

• North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission’s Firefighter Certification Program
• North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission’s Hazardous Materials Operations Level
• North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission’s Driver Operator Emergency Vehicle Driver
• North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission’s Technical Rescuer Vehicle
• North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission’s Rapid Intervention Crew Program (Gaston College)
• North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services Emergency Medical Technician-Basic Program
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) 100, 200, 700, 800
• Candidates will need to demonstrate the ability to maneuver through and perform required task in an environment of confinement of no less than 18 inches in diameter.
• Candidates will need to demonstrate the ability to successfully ascend/descend and perform task on various size ladders including ascending/descending 105’ open aerial ladder.

Physical Requirements
Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to respond to emergency alarms.  Work in this class is extremely physical and requires normal dexterity in the hands, feet, legs, body, and head to perform firefighting and rescue work.  Occasional lifting and carrying objects weighing more than 100 pounds is required in the work.  Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing which permits the employee to discern verbal instructions, communicate effectively on the telephone, department radio equipment, and in person is extremely important. Physical demands are essential to the duties of a Recruit Firefighter.  Work typically requires standing, stooping, climbing various heights, crawling, heavy lifting, heavy pushing, heavy pulling, and heavy carrying.   The Academy Recruit Firefighter uses equipment and carries out task that require a high degree of dexterity, mobility, cardiovascular endurance, and strength.

The Recruitment & Selection Process will be as follows:

• Monday, March 23 -29, 2026 - Online NTN Written Exam (Applicants will receive link and login information via email)
• March 30 - April 2, 2026 - In person Fireground Endurance Assessment (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Daily)
• April 20 - April 24 - In Person Panel Interview / Chief Interview (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Daily)
• Monday, May 4, 2026 - Job Offers Initiated
• May 5 - May31, 2026 - Background Process for all
• Monday, June 20, 2026 - Anticipated Start Date

Once an offer of employment has been extended, candidates will undergo a thorough background investigation, including NC State Bureau of Investigation fingerprinting.