Firefighter

Firefighter

The City of Tybee Island is accepting applications for a Firefighter to join the Fire Department. This position protects lives and property by responding to fires, emergency medical incidents, rescues, hazardous-material incidents, water-rescue incidents, and other emergencies.

This position is ideal for someone who can remain calm under pressure, work effectively as part of an emergency-response team, and perform physically demanding work in hazardous and rapidly changing conditions.

Essential Job Functions

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Responds to fires, emergency medical calls, rescues, hazardous-material incidents, water-rescue incidents, and other emergencies.
• Drives fire apparatus and operates pumps, hoses, ladders, rescue tools, and other firefighting and emergency equipment.
• Enters burning buildings and performs fire suppression, rescue, ventilation, and property-conservation activities.
• Provides emergency medical care within the employee's level of certification.
• Performs assigned water-rescue and beach-patrol duties.
• Inspects, cleans, tests, and maintains fire apparatus, medical equipment, protective equipment, tools, and station facilities.
• Participates in required training and maintains knowledge of City streets, addresses, hydrants, and emergency-response locations.
• Completes required reports and communicates by radio, in person, and in writing.
• Participates in community outreach and Fire Department activities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education and Certification Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• NPQ Firefighter I certification.
• NPQ Hazardous Materials Operations-level certification.
• Valid CPR certification.
• Successful completion of NIMS 100 and NIMS 700.

Qualifications Preferred at Hire

• NPQ Firefighter II certification.
• Georgia EMT certification or license.
• Valid Georgia Class F driver's license.
• NIMS 200 and NIMS 800.
• American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification
• National Traffic Incident Management training.
• Successful completion of the City's in-house driver training program.

Applicants who do not possess the preferred qualifications at hire must obtain or successfully complete them during the 12-month probationary period.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The successful candidate should have or be able to develop:

• Knowledge of firefighting, rescue, emergency medical services, hazardous-material response, and water-rescue operations.
• Ability to safely operate fire apparatus, rescue tools, emergency equipment, and radio communications.
• Ability to evaluate rapidly changing emergency conditions and make sound decisions.
• Ability to perform strenuous physical work while wearing protective equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively and interact professionally with coworkers and the public.
• Ability to work effectively as part of an emergency-response team.

Special Requirements

Firefighters must meet applicable requirements of the National Fire Protection Association and the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Act. Employees must attain 240 hours of structural-firefighter training for ISO purposes and be able to work in physically demanding, hazardous, and stressful emergency conditions.

Benefits

The City of Tybee Island offers an excellent benefits package for eligible full-time employees, including:

• 48 hours on/96 hours off work schedule with a flexible shift-swap policy
• City-funded GMEBS pension with no employee contribution
• Additional retirement benefits through the Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund
• Georgia Firefighter Cancer Benefit
• Georgia First Responder PTSD Benefit
• Medical plan options with the City paying most of the premium, up to 100%
• City HSA contributions for eligible employees enrolled in the high-deductible health plan
• Dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability coverage
• Paid holidays, vacation leave, and sick leave
• Training and professional-development opportunities
• Free individual YMCA membership and two free Tybee Island parking passes

Application and Physical Agility Testing Process

Interested applicants must submit an online City employment application by October 9, 2026.

Candidates selected to continue in the hiring process will be required to participate in two physical assessments conducted on separate days:

• A swimming assessment
• A fire-related physical agility assessment

Candidates must successfully complete the swimming assessment before advancing to the fire-related physical agility assessment. No retests will be offered.

Candidates may select the testing group that best fits their schedule. Please arrive at the designated start time for your selected group, as testing will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. Candidates arriving after 10:00 a.m. will not be accepted for testing.

Physical Agility Test Schedule

Group 1

• Swim Test: October 12, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
• Fire Physical Agility Test: October 13, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Group 2

• Swim Test: October 14, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
• Fire Physical Agility Test: October 15, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Swim Test Location

Chatham Aquatic Center7240 Sallie Mood DriveSavannah, GA 31406

Fire Physical Agility Test Location

Tybee Island Fire Station512 Jones AvenueTybee Island, GA 31328

Physical Agility Test Requirements

Swim Test

Candidates must complete an untimed, continuous 250-meter swim. The swim consists of five 50-meter laps in a 25-meter pool. Goggles may be worn. Only forward-facing swimming is permitted, and candidates may not stand or hold onto the pool wall.

Fire Physical Agility Test

Candidates must complete five continuous, job-related events while wearing a helmet, gloves, and a 30-pound SCBA without a facepiece. The events include a stair climb, equipment carry, forcible entry, hose pull, and 170-pound rescue dummy drag. Candidates must complete all five events without a critical failure and finish within nine minutes.

Required Waiver

Candidates participating in physical agility testing must complete and bring the Applicant Acknowledgment, Assumption of Risk, Waiver and Release form with them when they report for testing.

The waiver does not need to be completed before submitting the initial City application.

To find it, look at the Job Details section located at the top right of this posting. Under Attached Files, you will find the waiver form as a PDF.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should complete an employment application through the City of Tybee Island's employment website:

Applications will be accepted through October 9, 2026.