Firefighter/EMT

Matthews Fire and EMS is accepting applications for full-time CERTIFIED CAREER FIREFIGHTER/EMT POSITIONS. Career members are assigned to one of three operations shifts, working a modified 24/48 schedule and a 28-day work cycle, averaging 56 hours per workweek.

The application period for the Matthews Fire Department – Firefighter/EMT Hiring Process will remain open until positions are filled. Applications will be reviewed as received and interviews/skills/physical ability tests will be administered as needed to fill vacancies. This is a competitive process. Interested candidates must submit an application for consideration.

Hiring Bonuses Available!
All new hires selected for eligible positions will receive $2,000 on their first paycheck. Those who have relevant job experience and/or military experience are also eligible for up to $3,000 more (total payout available - $5,000). More information will be available during interviews and in the onboarding process.

About Matthews Fire and EMS
Located just east of Charlotte, NC, the Town of Matthews Fire and EMS is a combination department serving a population of approximately 33,500 people and a 17-square-mile district.

The department staffs three stations and operates 3 engines, a ladder, heavy rescue, and 2 EMS squads. In 2025, the department responded to approximately 4,500 calls for service and received a Class 1 ISO rating.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.


• Must be at least 18 years of age.


• Must possess at least a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency from an accredited educational institution by the date of employment application.


• Must possess or be able to obtain a valid North Carolina Driver's License within 60 days of employment with a safe driving record.


• Applicants with military service must have an honorable discharge and provide proof of military service (DD-214). If currently in the military, the applicant must provide a letter from the military indicating the ETS date. "General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions" will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.


• Must meet the medical requirements as outlined in NFPA 1582.


• Must be of good moral character.


• Must be able to think critically and solve complex problems during physical exertion in stressful, hazardous environments.


• Must be able to meet and maintain all minimum training, education, and compliance requirements for the position as established by the Town and the State of North Carolina (i.e. NC Firefighter and EMT certifications, Technical Rescue certifications, etc.).

Automatic Disqualifiers

• Discharge from military service with less than “General under Honorable Conditions.”


• Admission and/or conviction of a felony offense.


• Admission and/or conviction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.


• Any domestic violence offenses (including, but not limited to, assault, battery, telephone misuse, false imprisonment, stalking, etc.);


• DUI/DWI conviction within the last five (5) years.


• Court decisions such as Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) will be counted as convictions.


• Use of marijuana/THC (smoke, inhale, ingest, etc.) within 6 months before, or any time after, the date of employment application.


• Use of any other illicit or illegal drugs within 3 years before, or any time after, the date of employment application.


• Pattern of theft.


• Eight (8) or more points for moving violations on driving record during the past three (3) years; the three-year period is to be calculated from the date of conviction for each violation.


• Being involuntarily terminated from a previous fire-related position with the Town of Matthews or another public sector agency.


• Candidates will be expected to comply with the Professional Appearance Policy. Please click here for the Professional Appearance Policy.

POSITION SUMMARY

Performs responsible fire suppression, fire education and prevention, rescue, emergency medical, and incident response activities; drives and operates emergency apparatus and equipment; maintains equipment, apparatuses, and facilities; performs specialized tasks or programs; participates in pre-incident planning, maintenance of records, and training programs. Work is performed under the regular supervision of a Fire Captain.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

(The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the class.)

• Responds to fire, rescue, and emergency medical situations; drives and operates emergency apparatus and equipment.


• Responds and participates in remediation activities of chemical spills, hazardous materials, and other related incidents; enters hazardous atmospheres and burning structures, and searches for and rescues occupants; performs other firefighting and related emergency tasks consistent with appropriate NFPA standards for position.


• Responds to alarms and assists in the suppression of fires, including rescue, entry, ventilating, salvage work, containment of hazardous materials, traffic control, crowd control, motor vehicle accidents, etc.


• Responds to emergency medical calls; assesses patients and provides basic and advanced life support treatment for persons, if required; extricates victims trapped in motor vehicles or entangled in machinery; lowers patients from high places or raises them from holes or ravines; transports the sick and elderly.


• Responds to alarms and drives assigned apparatus to the required location.


• Assists in maintaining fire apparatus and equipment and cleaning fire station and grounds; inspects, cleans, and maintains fire hose, pumps, hydrants, and related equipment; inspects station and equipment for proper appearance and condition; re-stocks supplies as needed.


• When needed and qualified, drives apparatus to the incident scene; properly places apparatus to establish water supply or other needs; ensures proper operation of pumps and apparatus and pressure of hoses; issues equipment and monitors radio traffic for necessary response; returns fire apparatus and related equipment to service after incident response.


• Helps inspect and preplan structures and properties to identify and mediate hazards.


• Checks, tests, and paints fire hydrants.


• Conducts station tours and explains equipment to the public.


• Assists with the preparation of fire reports; participates in special projects as required; participates in training, fire pre-planning, fire education and prevention programming, mechanical maintenance and repair and testing of hoses, pumpers, and hydrants, and other related activities.


• Maintains required physical fitness through exercise, jogging, weightlifting, walking, etc.


• Participates in continuing training and instruction programs by individual study of technical material and attendance at scheduled drills and classes, while on shift or may be outside of regularly scheduled duty hours.


• Must stay abreast of state-of-the-art fire suppression and rescue procedures, techniques, and equipment and incorporate the necessary changes into in-service training.


• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

(The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• General knowledge of fire equipment maintenance techniques, procedures, and mechanics as applied to fire suppression and pump operation.


• General knowledge of the operation and maintenance of firefighting equipment and apparatus and the ability to operate such equipment and apparatus safely and effectively.


• Knowledge of incident response including response to hazardous materials spills, rescue techniques, and emergency medical service calls.


• Knowledge of the hazards of firefighting and appropriate safety precautions.


• Knowledge of departmental rules and regulations.


• Some knowledge of Town streets and layout.


• Some knowledge of the application of information technology to the work of the department.


• Ability to follow established EMS protocols and deliver competent and compassionate emergency medical care.


• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.


• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with employees, officials, Fire & EMS volunteers, and the general public.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Extremely strenuous physical work while wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), under some of the following conditions:

• Selects and deploys various hose lines and nozzles up to 5 inches in diameter to be used to direct water or chemicals onto fire.


• Carries, positions, climbs, and works from ladders and other high areas under adverse conditions.


• Removes injured or incapacitated victims from danger and administers first aid as required.


• Uses power tools and other mechanical equipment to breech doors, walls roofs, or floors, for various reasons.


• Communicates clearly and concisely using electronic devices and equipment.

This includes the ability to do so while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and SCBA under adverse conditions such as high background noise, poor visibility, and drenching from hose lines and/or fixed protection systems (sprinklers).

This position will require the employee to be able to perform strenuous work for extended periods while performing some or all of the following:

• Wear a respirator (SCBA).


• Climb six (6) or more flights of stairs while wearing fire protective ensemble weighing at least 50 lbs. or more while carrying equipment/tools, typically weighing an additional 20 lbs. to 40 lbs.


• Perform expected duties while wearing fire protective ensemble that is encapsulating and insulated and will result in significant fluid loss that frequently progresses to clinical dehydration which can elevate core temperature to levels exceeding 102.2°F (39°C).


• Search, locate, rescue-drag, and carry victims ranging from newborns to adults weighing over 200 lbs. to safety despite hazardous conditions and low visibility.

This is heavy work requiring the exertion of 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects; work requires climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, and repetitive motions. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word, and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels, and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; visual acuity is required for depth perception, color perception, night vision, peripheral vision, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, use of measuring devices, operation of machines, operation of motor vehicles or equipment, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Must be conscious of safety methods to avoid injury to others and themselves; mitigation of emergencies may involve performing hazardous tasks requiring strenuous physical exertion for extended periods of time in cramped surroundings, hot, smoky environments with limited visibility, and at considerable heights; work in dark, confined, disorienting spaces; work in overheated environments; work under adverse and stressful conditions; employees may find themselves in hostile or psychologically demanding environments, involving emotional or psychological stress work in unpredictable emergency situations for prolonged periods of physical exertion without the benefit of warm-up, scheduled rest periods, meals, access to medication(s), or hydration.

This position is subject to all State and Federal OSHA regulations, including, but not limited to the following: bloodborne pathogens, hazard communication/GHS, personal protective equipment, slips, trips, and falls, etc. Subject to hazards in public safety work including working in both inside and outside environments, heights, below-grade, and in and/or around water, regular exposure to outside weather conditions (hot and cold weather), risk of electrical shock, wet or humid conditions, and exposure to various hazards to include but not limited, heavy traffic, loud noises, and hazardous spills with fumes, oils, gases, and flammable liquids, toxic or caustic chemicals, hazardous traffic areas and under unfavorable or unsanitary conditions which may include burning debris, falling structures, biohazards, air and blood-borne pathogens, confined spaces; commercial and residential structures, etc.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency from an accredited educational institution.


• Must possess or be able to obtain a valid North Carolina Driver's License within 60 days of employment with a safe driving record. (If you possess a South Carolina Driver’s License and maintain residence in South Carolina, you are not required to attain a North Carolina's Driver's License.)


• No experience is necessary.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES

• Ability to obtain NC Firefighter I/II certification within eighteen (18) months of hire.


• Ability to obtain North Carolina EMT certification within eighteen (18) months of hire.


• Must be able to obtain Technical Rescue certifications.


• Must be able to meet and maintain the minimum training, experience, and compliance requirements for the position as established by the Town and the State of North Carolina.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• The Town of Matthews requires background checks to be conducted on the final candidate(s) applying for any position with the Town of Matthews. For this position, final candidates must pass a background process to include, but are not limited to, fingerprinting, work history verification, professional/personal reference checks, financial review, polygraph, psychological evaluation, pre-employment drug screening, and NFPA 1582 physical, criminal background, driving record checks, etc., with final approval by the Fire Chief and Human Resources. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test and/or participate in other assessments.


• Candidate must be insurable under the Department’s existing vehicle and umbrella liability insurance carrier.


• Candidate must meet the medical and physical requirements as specified in NFPA 1582, respirator use certification requirements, and successfully complete polygraph and psychological fit-for-duty evaluations.


• Must be able to meet and maintain all minimum training, education, and compliance requirements for the position as established by the Town and the State of North Carolina (i.e., NC Firefighter and EMT certifications, Technical Rescue certifications, etc.).

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

• All job requirements are subject to possible revision to reflect changes in the position requirements or to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.


• The Town is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Town of Matthews provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and job applicants and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws in all terms and conditions of employment.


• The Town of Matthews is an at-will employer.