Firefighter

Salary: $54,577.36 - $67,539.48 Annually
Location : 801 S. Walker St. Burgaw, NC 28425
Job Type: Full-Time Permanent
Job Number: 2026--0523
Department: Emergency Services
Opening Date: 05/20/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


General Definition of Work

The listed salary does not scale with the current county grade/step structure. The salary listed above accounts for a potential 3% COLA in the 2027 FY Budget.

Under the direct supervision of the Battalion Chief, Lieutenant or acting on his/her own volition the Firefighter/EMT is responsible for ensuring their assigned apparatus, equipment and facilities are maintained in appropriate readiness to respond to a variety of life saving emergency calls. The Firefighter is primarily responsible for performing difficult and lifesaving work at emergency scenes including fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical care and general preparatory work at the fire station, checking equipment for proper operation and general condition, and performing and assisting with routine maintenance of apparatus and equipment.

Essential Functions
• Perform all assigned duties at a professional level, including but not limited to structural firefighting, vehicle extrication, emergency medical care.
• Operate fire suppression and rescue equipment safely and effectively.
• Participate in fire prevention, pre-planning, inspections, and fire equipment testing activities.
• Assist in keeping fire quarters in a clean and orderly condition.
• Perform other tasks/ job duties as assigned.
• Ability to operate both as a member of a team and independently at incidents of uncertain duration in urban, rural, water and wilderness environments.
• Maintains familiarity with specialized equipment.
• Responsible for understanding the geography and street layout of the service districts and surrounding area.
• Performs daily inspections of assigned vehicles, radios, and equipment as required to maintain operational readiness.
• Ensures that vehicle is in proper mechanical condition by checking items required by service management.
• Refuels vehicle and reports any unsafe operating conditions of vehicles, radios, and equipment.
• Attend mandatory training as required by NCOEMS and Pender EMS & Fire, inc.
• Perform daily station duties; ensure stations are kept clean and orderly.
• Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education & Experience
• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• Possession of a valid class C (or higher) driver's license
• Successful completion of background screening and driving record check
• Certified NC Firefighter 2
• All non-NC certifications must have NCOSFM reciprocity
• Possession of a valid, unrestricted North Carolina EMT credential
• Possession of a valid American Heart Association (AHA) cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Certification
• Completion of NIMS/ICS 100, 200, 700, 800
• Successful Completion of Candidate Ability Performance Test (CPAT)
• Annual Completion of Job Performance Ability Test (JPAT)
• Initial & Annual Completion of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Physical
• Successful completion of Pender EMS & Fire, Inc Probationary Academy

REQUIRED WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR OF HIRE DATE:
• Possession of a valid Class B Driver's License
• Certified NC Emergency Vehicle Driver (EVD)
• Certified NC Technical Rescuer- Vehicle Rescue
Physical Requirements
• Maintains an appropriate level of personal fitness to pass the department's annual JPAT requirements.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to perform climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
• Very Heavy Work: Exerting up to 200 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision acuity and the ability to adjust his or her focus, allowing a broad field of vision.
• Visual and fine/gross motor skills enabling the safe operation of a vehicle during normal, as well as during hazardous weather situations.
There are a wide variety of benefits available to eligible Pender County employees. These benefits include: health, dental, vision, life insurance, optional life and disability insurance plans, flexible spending account, retirement program, 401(k) program, deferred compensation program, credit union membership and an employee assistance program.

Pender County Benefits Overview can be viewed
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Do you have a North Carolina driver license, a valid driver license from another state due to military exemption, or the ability to obtain a North Carolina driver license within 30 days of hire?

• Yes
• No

Required Question