HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Huntsville Fire & Rescue is seeking highly motivated and caring difference-makers to join its team.
Fire & Rescue Chief Mac McFarlen hopes to have a large pool of candidates seeking a fulfilling career with competitive pay, flexible hours, advancement opportunities, excellent retirement and insurance, and other City of Huntsville benefits.
“The past couple of years have been tough on everyone, but we’re eager to see what our future holds at Huntsville Fire & Rescue,” he said. “We are continuously working to improve our processes, training and response to better serve the community. Anyone who wants to help us in our mission to protect property and save lives should apply.”
Recruiter Cory Green, a Huntsville native and 10-year City employee, is also a driver/engineer with Fire & Rescue. He loves his job and hopes to bring the best employees with the strongest character on board.
To accomplish this, Green is taking a grassroots approach to find a diverse pool of applicants.
"Diversity is important at Fire & Rescue,” he said. “Whether you’ve dreamed of being a firefighter or have never considered a career in fire service before, I encourage you to give Fire & Rescue a chance. You won’t regret it.”
The process of completing recruit school takes about six months from start to finish. In addition to a civil service exam, applicants must pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), which measures their ability to handle the physical demands of being a firefighter.
Although fire suppression is a critical piece of the department, it’s not the only thing Fire & Rescue employees do. Other roles include heavy rescue operations, Hazardous Materials Management (HAZMAT) or fire prevention.
“Throughout their career, Huntsville firefighters can join a number of teams,” McFarlen said. “Those who don’t want to run into a burning building may consider other opportunities within the department.”
Prospective candidates can visit Fire & Rescue’s website, JoinHFR.com, to learn more about the hiring process and how to succeed. The recruitment campaign will also include targeted online outreach, in-person events, videos, blogs and an increased presence at job fairs, colleges, trade schools and more.