2026 Entry Level Firefighter

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Cityof AuroraColorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora were growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles or core values that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of:IntegrityRespect Professionalism andCustomer Service and we welcome all who share these values to apply.

Why Work for Aurora

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs
• Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

**This job announcement is for collecting candidate applications for current and future applicants.**

The Aurora Civil Service Commission is accepting Entry Level Firefighter applications to establish a new Certified Eligibility List for Aurora Fire Rescue academies in 2026. The next fire academy is scheduled to begin on July 27 2026.

The deadline to submit applications is Friday January 2nd 2026 at 11:59pm. However it is subject to close at any time without prior notice once a sufficient pool of qualified applicants is obtained.

Applicants may be invited to a fire academy seminar based on availabilityand rank before entering the academy.

If applications are also open for Lateral Firefighter we recommend that you review the qualifications and consider applying for both the entry level and lateral positions.

Job Description:

Choosing a career as a Firefighter can be one of the most challenging exciting and rewarding experiences of your life. Aurora Fire Rescue (AFR) is an all-hazards department with a total of 17 fire stations serving the city of Aurora has a growing population of over 403000 residents and is home to a diverse business environment to include major industries such as aerospace and defense renewable energy bioscience health care transportation and logistics. AFR maintains an ISO Class 1 rating which is the highest possible public protection classification.

Examples of Duties - A comprehensive list of a firefighters duties is not possible but those working within Aurora Fire Rescue perform the following functions:

• Responds to fire rescue and emergency medical calls for service including providing fire suppression emergency medical treatment and assistance to technical rescue teams.

• Responds to and stabilizes incident area in hazardous materials incidents

• Designates and establishes safe medical treatment areas for the assessment treatment stabilization and transportation of patients according to medical protocol and level of emergency medical certification.

• Participates in training to maintain and enhance current physical fitness firefighting and emergency medical skills.

• Cleans maintains and inspects apparatus and equipment checks every shift as well as maintenance and repair of fire station facility and equipment.

• Responds to requests for public assistance for lift assists welfare checks smoke and Carbon Monoxide monitor checks blood pressure first aid standby and bomb threats.

• Provides fire safety prevention health assessments Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and First Aid training in the public schools or to other community groups upon request.

Salary:
The comprehensive breakdown of the rates of pay per the 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) contract for the 24-hour shift employee is below:

• Grade IV - $70748 Annually / $28.34456 Hourly

• Grade III - $78367 Annually / $31.39704 Hourly

• Grade II - $87075 Annually / $34.88582 Hourly

• Grade I - $108843 Annually / $43.60698 Hourly

Upcoming Deadlines:

• FireTEAM Exam Complete and submit scores by January 9 2026.

  • Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be required to complete and pass the FireTEAM exam through the National Testing Network (NTN). To register for the exam go to the National Testing Network website and ensure that you select Aurora Civil Service Commission as a department to send your scores to.

• CPAT Certification - A valid CPAT certificate must be submitted by January 23 2026.

  • AFR will be offering CPAT testing on dates yet to be other examples of places to obtain your certificate include Aims Community College Denver Fire Pikes Peak State College and the National Testing Network.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

Minimum qualifications and automatic disqualifiers are available for your review in Section II Rule 2a & 2b in the Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations. They are as listed below:

Minimum qualifications for original appointment include:

i) Entry-Level Fire applicants shall be 18 years old by the projected start date

of the Academy.

ii) Be a citizen of the United States of America or a person who is lawfully

admitted for permanent residence in accordance with the Immigration and

Nationality Act.

iii) Have completed a minimum education of high school completion or GED

equivalency.

iv) Must have a valid drivers license and if not a Colorado drivers license be

able to obtain a Colorado drivers license by the start of the Academy.

v) Be able to perform minimum essential job functions of the recruit position.

Automatic grounds for disqualification from the hiring process include:

i) Conviction of or deferred judgment for a crime which is a felony under state

or federal law; or military conviction by a court-martial that is comparable to

a felony conviction.

ii) Illegal distribution of any controlled substances or drugs including steroids in

the last (3) years.

iii) Conviction of or deferred judgment for any driving offense listed below within the last three (3) years from the projected start date of the Academy:

1. Homicide or assault with a vehicle;

the scene of a crash (hit and run);

a Police Officer;

vehicle related felony;

Racing/Exhibition of Speed;

driving resulting in serious bodily injury/death;

while intoxicated (DUI DWAI DUID)

iv) Any applicant who tests positive for marijuana during the pre-employment drug test will

not be hired and will be ineligible to be employed within the City of Aurora for one year.

Applicants are advised that it can take several days to more than a month for a marijuana

user to pass a drug test.

Benefits - Benefits & Retirement- City of Aurora

Holidays:

• Personnel working 24-hour shifts will be compensated at time and one-half (1½) for hours worked during the 11 legal holidays as set forth in in the collective bargaining agreement.

Vacation and Sick:

• Vacation Five (24-hour) shifts accrued per year (120 hours annually)

• Sick Leave Six (24-hour) shifts accrued per year (144 hours annually)

Health Dental Vision and Life Insurance:

The City of Aurora offers contributions to a variety of health insurance plans including some where the monthly premium is completely covered by the city. Employees have optional dental and vision insurance as well as other offerings. Life insurance is provided by the city at an amount equal to twice the employees salary with the option to obtain additional coverage. Employees can also add life insurance coverage for their dependents.

*Insurance does not take effect until the 1st day of the month following the date of hire. (ex. Hire date of January 5th insurance effective February 1st)

Retirement:

Coverage is provided by the Statewide Defined Benefit Pension Plan of the city and the firefighter shall contribute the amount set by the FPPA.

Deferred Compensation:

Members may elect to tax defer a percentage of their salary on a bi-weekly basis.

Training:

Aurora Fire Rescue is focused on training requiring ongoing in-service training for its members. Programs like tuition reimbursement and job-related sponsored training are offered to encourage constant self-improvement.

For Veterans points: Please show all of your employment history including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.
The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer. We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants. It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex race age sexual orientation creed national origin disability or military status gender identity unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.

Despite the changes in Colorado law the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace. A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.

Drug Testing Thorough Criminal Background Check and Employment References:
As a condition of employment all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check and drug screening. Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.