Las Cruces Fire Department wants you!

The Las Cruces Fire Department is now recruiting for its next fire academy, which starts in March 2024, Fire Chief Jason Smith said.

With a total strength of 193 full-time, sworn firefighter positions, LCFD expects to hire 20-24 new firefighters to fill current vacancies and anticipated retirements, the chief said.

A qualified applicant must be at least 18 years old by the start of the academy, have a high school diploma or the equivalent, be a United States citizen or have the legal right to work in the United States, already have or be able to obtain an emergency medicine technician (EMT) license, pass a written exam and a physical exam, pass an acrophobia test, complete an in-person interview, have a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record and pass a background check.

Cadets are hired as temporary, full-time employees while completing the 24-week fire academy (March 18-Aug. 31, 2024), and become full-time firefighter trainees when they graduate from the academy and are sworn in.

The starting annual salary for a Las Cruces firefighter cadet and trainee is $45,136.

Smith said one half of the fire academy is devoted to fire response training and the other half to EMS. If a cadet already has an EMS license, they could graduate early.

Joining LCFD is a great way to start a life-long career, the chief said, or to consider if you’re thinking of changing careers.

But, a career with LCFD is more than fighting fires, Smith said, noting that of LCFD’s approximately 22,000 calls for services in 2022, only about five percent were related to fighting fires.

“There are several different career paths,” he said, including becoming a certified law enforcement officer, arson investigator, peer support, technical rescue, aircraft rescue, hazmat, contract management, medical billing, social work, mobile integrated healthcare and even fire sprinkler plan review. You could also devote time to the local firefighters’ union, the International Association of Firefighters union.

“There are a lot of opportunities,” Smith said. “You won’t be limited to a single role for your entire career.”

Joining LCFD could also help a recruit “find that sense of team or belonging – something that is bigger than just a paycheck,” said Smith, who joined LCFD almost 21 years ago as a firefighter and became fire chief in March 2021.

Before signing on, Smith was an observer on LCFD Engine #2.

“It was the best 12 hours of on-the-job training I ever had,” he said. “I really found what I was looking for.”

LCFD has eight fire stations with a ninth in development on the East Mesa. It has eight fire engines, two fire trucks and other department vehicles.

LCFD will host public physical ability practice tests Sept. 9 and 23 and Oct. 7. Contact LCFD at its non-emergency number, 575-528-3473, for more information.

For more information, visit www.lascruces.gov/163/Career-Opportunities and

www.lascruces.gov/1351/Entrance-Process.