DC Calls Public Safety Professionals DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department
About DC Fire and EMS DC Fire and EMS is Washington D.C.'s all-hazards emergency response agency, operating across 33 firehouses throughout the city.
DC Fire and EMS personnel respond to structure fires, cardiac emergencies, mass casualty events, technical rescues, and everything in between. DC Fire and EMS doubled Washington, D.C.’s out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate to 44.3%, tying DC for the highest rate of any city in the country. At DC Fire and EMS, you are joining a team leading innovation in patient care, including whole-blood transfusion in the field, which has been shown to more than double the chances of survival for patients with severe blood loss.
If you want a career where your experience is unlike anywhere else in the country, DC Fire and EMS is calling.
Eligibility Requirements
FF/Paramedic
To become a DC Fire and EMS firefighter/paramedic, you will need:
No prior firefighting experience is required to become a FF/paramedic — DC Fire and EMS provides full training from day one!
FF/EMT
To become a DC Fire and EMS firefighter/EMT, you will need:
During EMT training, a firefighter/EMT will train to take the National Registry EMT Certification.
No prior firefighting or emergency medical experience is required — DC Fire and EMS provides full training from day one!
Career Growth
A DC Fire and EMS career is built in layers. Academy training prepares you for both fire and EMS response from day one. Firefighter paramedic applicants must already have a National Registry Paramedic Certification when they start; however, firefighter EMT applicants and cadets do not need any prior training. Over time, you can apply for specialty assignments in technical rescue, hazmat, and operational leadership. Promotions to lieutenant, captain, and beyond are based on merit, performance, and examination. Because DC is the nation’s capital, DC Fire and EMS personnel operate in high-profile, complex emergency environments that build skills and experience found nowhere else.
Benefits
Salary
Upon successful completion of the program, new firefighter EMT recruits receive a starting salary of $62,236 annually, accrue 4.5 hours of paid annual and sick leave bi-weekly, and have access to life insurance.
PENSION
DC Fire and EMS members are covered by the Police and Firefighters’ Retirement Plan, which provides a lifetime annuity after 25 years of service at any age, estimated at 62.5% of their highest average base pay.
Health Benefits
DC Fire and EMS members receive comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
Answer the call and learn more today.
Why DC Matters: Voices from the Field Hear from the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department
“The first time I watched Engine 33 respond for my grandmother, I saw what this work really meant. The crew that walked through her door was honorable, professional and present. They showed up for her the way I always believed someone should. That’s why I show up everyday with honorable intentions and my head held high, ready to serve people with respect and care. That is what this job means to me. And I take a lot of pride in that.”
“I am proud of this city. I am proud of this work. DC calls because this is a noble calling, one that asks for people with a higher standard of character, a deeper commitment to excellence, and a genuine desire to serve. If you are thinking about a career in public safety, there is no better place to answer that call than here.”
