Becoming a Firefighter

Established in 1915, the St. Louis Park Fire Department has a proud and distinguished history of providing all hazard emergency and non-emergency service to the residents, businesses and visitors. A highly dedicated and talented team of men and women answer over 4,000 calls for service each year.

St. Louis Park firefighters are driven by a desire to serve with excellence and compassion. They are highly trained and skilled in emergency medical care, community health care navigation, fire suppression, technical rescue, hazardous materials response and other essential skills to safely, efficiently and effectively answer the needs of those who require assistance.

Department personnel are actively involved in communitywide safety initiatives through public education, community health and outreach, fire and life safety code inspections, and community risk reduction activities.

Recognized as a leader in the fire service, St. Louis Park prides itself on building strong relationships and fostering an environment of learning, innovation and continuous improvement. 

Below are the minimum qualifications for those interested in joining the St. Louis Park Fire Department.

• Age 18 or older by the time the hiring list expires
• High school graduate or GED
• Have a valid Minnesota driver's license or be eligible to be licensed in the State of Minnesota
• Current National Registry certification as an EMT
• Current Minnesota or IFSAC accredited firefighter I and II certification
• Successfully completed a hazardous materials responder – operational level class or equivalent 

The St. Louis Park Fire Department fills job openings from a pre-established, civil service approved hiring list. During the spring and summer of odd numbered years, the fire department conducts prospective firefighter assessments to create the hiring list. Prospective candidates must pass each phase of the assessment process to move forward to the next phase. The phases include:

• Meet minimum qualifications
• Complete a detailed application and questionnaire
• First round interviews
• Second round interviews and skills assessment

The goal of the assessment process is to add 12 – 15 candidates to the hiring list. When openings occur, the top three available candidates on the list are interviewed. The final candidate is given a conditional offer, which is subject to successfully passing a physical agility test, background check, and psychological and physical health exams. 

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a St. Louis Park firefighter, complete the job interest card or contact human resources at 952.924.2521. Those that complete the job interest card are notified when the application process is posted.

For 2023, firefighter salaries range from $80,685 – $101,864.

Firefighters are eligible to receive:

• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Police and fire pension from PERA 

The first phase of new employee training is a four-week review of basic firefighter skills, including hands-on, classroom and live fire scenarios.

In the second phase, new employees will work on shift with an assigned mentor and complete additional firefighter orientation and training evolutions. This phase is generally 22 weeks long.

Following the second phase, a new employee is released to full, unrestricted duty and can work on shift, on the fire engine and as a regular member of the team. 

Assigned to one of three shifts, firefighters work approximately 10, 24-hour shifts a month with rotating days on and off. Shifts start at 7:30 a.m. and end the following morning at 7:30 a.m.

There are eight firefighters assigned to each shift (four firefighters per station). Each station has a team of three firefighters and one officer.

During the shift, firefighters respond to calls, participate in classroom and hands-on training, and assist with fire prevention activities.

St. Louis Park firefighters will answer on average about 12 calls for service in a 24-hour shift.