Firefighter

The City of Owensboro is hiring Firefighters to serve as members of the Owensboro Fire Department. The role focuses on saving lives and property through fire suppression, emergency medical response, and other emergency and rescue operations.

• Inspect and maintain protective gear and equipment (e.g., SCBA, hoses, tools).
• Clean, inspect, and maintain fire trucks, apparatus, and emergency vehicles; test hydrants and check vehicle fluids.
• Drive and operate fire apparatus and emergency vehicles.
• Conduct building inspections to identify fire and safety hazards and to become familiar with structures in the assigned district.
• Support other City departments as needed and ensure safe, effective fire/emergency suppression and EMS support practices.
• Maintain station facilities and grounds (e.g., firehouse, lawn), perform spring cleaning and minor repairs/painting, and maintain professional appearance of apparatus (washing/waxing).
• Respond to emergencies including fires, EMS calls, vehicle and transportation wrecks, hazardous materials incidents, alarms, water rescues, high-angle incidents, confined space incidents, and mutual aid responses.

• Minimum hiring age: 18 (must be at least 18 at time of being sworn).
• Education: High school diploma or GED.
• Provide evidence of completed education and/or active military duty (e.g., associates degree/college hours and/or DD214 or other acceptable military documentation) as applicable; failure to meet standards may disqualify candidates.
• Must meet standards consistent with KRS 95.440 (sobriety, integrity, orderly and law-abiding citizen).
• Ability to complete mandatory recruitment steps including written exam, CPAT, oral exam, further evaluation/background screening, and post-offer pre-employment requirements.

• Schedule: Shift work generally 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. (24 hours on, 48 hours off).
• Pay: Starting annual pay $56,202/year (based on 2,912 annual hours) plus State Incentive Pay of $4,562/year paid monthly once certified as a Kentucky Firefighter.
• Recruitment timeline (dates subject to change): Written exam March 25, 2026 (9:00 a.m. or 5:30 p.m.); CPAT April 18, 2026 (scheduled at written exam; local CPAT available at no cost); Oral exam week of May 11–15 (tentative); further evaluation/background screening and post-offer requirements dates TBD.
• Promotional opportunities after 48 months.
• Department features: aggressive interior fire tactics, Advanced Life Support non-transport engine companies, regional technical rescue team, and river response capabilities.
• Application deadline: March 14, 2026.