Lateral Entry Firefighter - Savannah Fire Department

Salary : $59,724.25 Annually
Location : 121 East Oglethorpe Avenue, Savannah, GA
Job Type: Full-Time Permanent
Job Number: 2603247
Department: Savannah Fire Department
Division: Fire Operations Division
Opening Date: 06/01/2026
Closing Date: 6/30/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


Purpose
This position performs firefighting activities, including combating and extinguishing fires, rescuing persons, and salvaging
property in emergencies, training with and maintaining equipment, assisting in fire prevention activities, and controlling
and containing hazardous substances.
The City of Savannah offers an excellent benefits package, including twelve (12) paid holidays, medical, dental, and
vision insurance, wellness programs, education reimbursement, employer home purchase assistance, employee referral
program, 457B deferred benefit contribution plan, Georgia Firefighter Pension Fund, Georgia Firefighter Cancer Benefit
program, accident Insurance, cancer Insurance, critical illness insurance, legal Insurance, and City Pension
Application 6/1/2026 - 6/30/2026
Lateral Performance Assessment (LPA)Practice 6/26/2026 and 6/27/2026
Informational Session 6/13/2026 and 6/14/2026
LPA and Interview Process 7/6-7/9, 2026
Conditional Job Offers & Background 7/10/2026
Medical Physicals 7/14/2026 and 7/16/2026
Final Job Offers 7/17/2026
Job Start Date 8/17/2026
Essential Job Functions

• Responds to calls for fire, medical, hazmat, rescue, and other natural and/or man-made emergencies.
• Carry out commands and tasks necessary to mitigate the emergency safely and efficiently; perform all duties and tasks assigned by supervisors.
• Provide immediate lifesaving care while awaiting additional EMS resources to arrive. Aids higher-level EMS personnel on the scene at emergencies.
• Maintains competence in specialized training required for specialty unit assignments; participates, develops, and leads training drills/classes; maintains readiness to respond to high-risk/low-frequency incidents; maintains recertification.
• Conducts Community Risk Reduction: public service calls, customer surveys, recruiting events, blood pressure checks, home safety surveys, smoke detector installation, fire plans, community meetings, school events, Fire safety talks, and apparatus displays.
• Cleans and maintains equipment: bunker gear cleaning, self-contained breathing apparatus maintenance, industrial firefighting equipment, pump service, hose testing, extrication equipment, etc.
• Performs station cleaning and maintenance duties, including cleaning windows and overhead doors, dormitories, apparatus floors, equipment and tools, the kitchen, brass cleaning of fire poles, and stripping, waxing, and buffing floors.
• Conducts station tours and walk-up blood pressure checks.
• After completing a driver operator task book, serves as a relief driver.
• Drives and operates fire apparatus for emergency and non-emergency incidents.
• Conducts vehicle inspections, maintenance, and records management.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications
To qualify as a Lateral Firefighter, at the time of application, you must be:

• Currently employed as a full-time paid firefighter by a state, county, or municipal fire department.
• At least two (2) years (full-time) paid firefighting experience while employed full-time by a state, county, or
  municipal fire department.
• Twenty (20) years of age at the time of hire.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Successful completion and passing of a background check
• Must successfully pass the Lateral Performance Assessment (LPA) before being hired
• NPQ or IFSAC Firefighter 1 and 2.
• NPQ or IFSAC Hazmat Awareness and Operations.
  • Reciprocity is available through the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council.
  • 409 (7) "Reciprocity" means the process of reviewing training documentation provided to GFSTC by a candidate or a department requesting the opportunity to enter a training program at the next higher level above the level being requested, or credit for prior training to be considered toward registration/certification
• Preferred NREMT Basic or GA equivalent.
  • If not NREMT Basic or GA equivalent, shall complete EMTB within the first available department-sponsored class.
• Valid driver's license with a satisfactory motor vehicle record and the ability to upgrade the license to a Class E license.
  • Must obtain a Georgia State license within 90 days.
• Successful completion of the 4-week lateral recruit academy.
• Successful completion of one (1) year probation period beginning on the hire date.
• Successful completion of FEMA-required NIMS courses (100, 700, and 800) by the end of the academy, if not already obtained.

WORK SCHEDULE The work schedule consists of a 56-hour work week. Each firefighter works one day (24 hours) and then has two days off (48 hours off). At the administration's discretion, firefighters may also be assigned to various other work schedules per their work assignments.

SALARY
The starting pay range for lateral firefighters depends on each candidate's qualifications and experience. Candidates selected for hire will be placed within one of the steps below based on their current career experience.

Public Safety Non-Exempt Grade & SalaryGradeStep 1Step 2602$59,724.00$61,216.00

• Lateral entry with two (2) years of prior service with or without the NREMT Basic or GA equivalent:
  
  • Enter at Step 1 ($59,724.00)
    
    • If not State of Georgia or NREMTB, shall complete EMTB within the first available department-sponsored class
    • Eligible for promotion after two (2) years of SFD service and meeting all requirements for the SFD Fire Engineer promotional opportunity.
• Lateral entry with two (2) years of prior service and possess AEMT or higher:
  
  • Enter at Step 2 ($61,216.00)
    
    • Eligible for promotion after two (2) years of SFD service and meeting all requirements for the SFD Fire Engineer promotional opportunity.

Additional Information
CITY OF SAVANNAH EMPLOYEE BENEFITS


Overview of Benefits

Paid Holiday
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Defined Benefit Retirement Pension Plan
Protective Services Retirement Plan (select positions)
Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan
Retirement Seminars
PPO Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Wellness Programs
Health & Wellness Incentives
Long Term Disability
Excellence and Service Recognition
Employee Development and In-Service Training
Educational Assistance Program
Uniform Allowance (select positions)
Employee Assistance Program
Discounts and Memberships
Employee Relations
Direct Deposit
Credit Union
Pretax Parking Deductions
Employer Assisted Home Purchase Program
Domestic Partnership Benefits

Healthcare

PPO Medical Plus Plan
PPO Medical Basic Plan
Dental Plus Plan
Dental Basic Plan
Vision Service Plan

Life Insurance

Basic Life and ADD
Supplemental Life Employee
Supplemental Life Spouse
Supplemental Life Child

Benefits costs are paid by the City of Savannah, by the employee or shared by both the City and the employee.
01


Do you have a valid driver's license? If yes, please attach a copy to your application.

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have a high school diploma or GED? If yes, please attach a copy to your application.

• Yes
• No

03


Do you have at least two (2) years of full-time paid experience as a certified firefighter with a federal, state, county, or municipal fire department/district/authority?

• Yes
• No

04


Are you currently employed as a full-time paid firefighter employed by a federal, state, county, or municipal fire department/district/authority and in good standing?

• Yes
• No

05


Are you a retired firefighter (certification must be current) who voluntarily separated within the last twelve (12) months from full-time paid employment from a federal, state, county, or municipal fire department/district/authority, and in good standing

• Yes
• No

06


Please select the following certifications you currently hold and attach them to your application.

• State of Georgia or NPQ/Pro Board Firefighter 1 and 2
• NPQ Hazardous Materials Awareness
• NPQ Hazardous Materials Operations
• National Registry EMT (NREMT) Basic w/ CPR
• Georgia Certified Emergency Medical Technician
• Nationally Registered Advanced EMTs (NRAEMT) or higher

Required Question