Frequently Asked Questions
No, there are no volunteers on the Fire Department. All of the 1300 firefighters are full time paid firefighters.
Yes, ride-alongs are allowed. You must contact the captain of the station where you would like to ride prior to riding. Most captains like at least
a one-week advance notice. You must also fill out a waiver of liability. This form is kept at all fire stations.
No, the process is extremely competitive. There are usually between 1500 and 2000 applicants every year for the position of Firefighter. Less than
2.5% of those who apply will ever wear the uniform of a Charlotte Firefighter.
The Fire Department will always list the date for the next written test on the
official fire department recruitment web page, or by
calling the recruitment office at (704) 336-2979 or e-mailing them at
CFDRecruitment@ci.charlotte.nc.us. E-mails sent to any email addresses on this website
regarding employment will not be answered. You must contact the Charlotte Fire Department Recruitment office for official employment
information.
Yes, regardless of previous experience or certifications if hired you will be required to attend the eighteen-week fire academy. The fire department
does not allow lateral transfers.
All line personnel work twenty-four hour shifts that begin at 8:00 AM and end the next day at 8:00 AM. The schedule is a modified 24/48 and an
example is below:
Monday (ON) Tuesday (OFF) Wednesday (ON) Thursday (OFF) Friday (OFF) Saturday (ON) Sunday (OFF) Monday (ON). A four-day break follows that and the
shift returns on Saturday and the cycle repeats again. Each month firefighters are either given a 10-hour day Kelly off or a 14-hour night Kelly off
with pay. View the 2008 shift calendar courtesy of the Charlotte Fire
Department Credit Union.
There are approximately 350 personnel assigned to each of the three shifts. At all times there is a minimum of 250 firefighters on duty twenty-four
hours a day responding from 38 fire stations located through out the city.
All engine companies ride with four crew members (Engine 9 rides with five), all ladder companies ride with four and the two rescues ride with five
each. The Blaze apparatus at Charlotte-Douglas Airport are staffed with two or three firefighters depending on the apparatus. Other specialty
apparatus are cross-manned.
Yes, currently stations 1, 4, 5, 6 and Arson Task Force (old Station 2) have poles in them for the firefighters to use. Many other stations had
poles but have since had them removed. Stations 7 and 8 had poles but had them removed during renovations for various reasons. Now, many of the
newer stations being built are single story stations and do not require a pole.
The are two major transfer opportunities every year, one in June and one in December. Personnel fill out a request for transfer list which allows
one to place three requests. The requests can be as broad as one would like such as, "B" Shift, or Battalion 7, or can be as narrow as
one would like such as Engine 38 "C" Shift. Transfers are made based on seniority (time in rank). Transfers to speciality companies
(e.g. Rescue, Haz-Mat, USAR, CFR, etc.) are made based on both certifications and seniority. If you request a transfer and there are no openings at
your selected choices then you will remain at your current assignment.
