Fire/EMT Trainee

City of Burlington NC • Burlington, NC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Burlington Fire Department is looking for motivated individuals ready to serve their community, learn lifesaving skills, and grow into a professional Firefighter/EMT. No prior experience is required. The department will provide training, support, and a career path for driven and dependable individuals. As a Firefighter Trainee, you will be paid to train and become a certified professional firefighter. Upon completion of the Fire Academy, you will become a certified firefighter with placement in the Burlington Fire Department. You will attend Fire Academy and EMT training to earn your NC Firefighter and EMT certification, train alongside experienced firefighters in real-world scenarios and drills, learn how to respond to fires, medical emergencies, rescues, and other critical incidents, build hands-on skills like operating hoses, ladders, and life-saving equipment, develop the physical and mental readiness required for emergency response, and maintain and inspect equipment to ensure readiness at all times. Once certified, you will advance to a Firefighter/EMT role within the Burlington Fire Department, responding directly to emergencies and protecting lives and property.

Requirements

• At least 18 years old
• High school diploma or GED
• Valid North Carolina driver’s license
• Ability to obtain a NC Class B license during training
• Committed to serving others in high-pressure situations
• Team-oriented and dependable
• Physically and mentally prepared for demanding work
• Willing to learn, train, and meet certification requirements
• Professional in their interactions with the public and coworkers

Nice To Haves

• 1 year Fire Diploma
• Fire Management Certificate
• Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degree for Fire and Non-Fire educational achievements

Responsibilities

• Attend Fire Academy and EMT training to earn your NC Firefighter and EMT certification
• Train alongside experienced firefighters in real-world scenarios and drills
• Learn how to respond to fires, medical emergencies, rescues, and other critical incidents
• Build hands-on skills like operating hoses, ladders, and life-saving equipment
• Develop the physical and mental readiness required for emergency response
• Maintain and inspect equipment to ensure readiness at all times
• Respond to emergencies in all weather conditions
• Operate in environments that require focus, resilience, and teamwork

Benefits

• Paid training through Fire & EMT Academy at no cost to the employee
• Promotion to Firefighter/EMT upon successful certification
• 6 and 12 months increases for acceptable performance
• Educational pay incentives
• 33 different stipends for various certifications
• 4-5% raises annually until the mid-point of the range
• Promotional opportunities
• Strong training culture and commitment to personal development
• Drone as a First Responder Program
• Modern apparatus and state-of-the-art firefighting equipment
• Community engagement opportunities
• Free medical health insurance for the employee
• Employee Occupational Health Clinic for employees and covered dependents
• Health, Dental and annual eye exam coverage
• Paid Parental Leave
• Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System
• 401k – 5% city contribution
• Generous accruals of paid time off for Vacation, Sick and Holiday hours
• Longevity Pay when eligible
• Milestone Leave Program
• City Provided Life Insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Education incentive
• Language incentive
• Ability to transfer NC local government earned sick leave
• Voluntary Flexible Spending Account election
• Voluntary Short-Term Disability, Accident and Cancer Insurance elections
• Sick to service time conversion for LGERS retirement
• NC Firefighters' and Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund
• Other voluntary insurances and deferred compensation plans

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED