Career Opportunities
The Palo Alto Fire Department (PAFD) is a professional team dedicated to safeguarding and enriching the lives of everyone, at all times, everywhere, with compassion and pride.
Community Focused Emergency Response, Fire, and Life Safety Services
PAFD provides emergency response, fire, and life safety service to the Palo Alto community, Stanford University and beyond through mutual and automatic aid agreements with regional jurisdictions. The PAFD answers 10,000 calls to serve the greater Palo Alto community every year; more than half require medical response. When called upon by the state or federal government, the department also provides fire suppression, medical response, and rescue services for large wildfires and large-scale emergencies and disasters. We are the only city Fire Department in Santa Clara County that provides Advanced Life Support Transport in addition to fire service, and we work hard at it.
Innovative & High-Quality Fire Service Response
From emergency medical response to wildland urban interface management, our talented and energetic team provide innovative and high-quality services to the community who work and live in Palo Alto each day. Palo Alto Fire serves the community from six fire stations and one seasonally staffed station in the foothills, across 37.5 square miles. Station 4 is currently being replaced, and the new state-of-the-art facility, slated for unveiling in 2027, will be LEED Silver certified. The department’s apparatus includes six Type I engines, two Type III engines, one Type V engine, three paramedic ambulances, one aerial ladder truck, plus additional equipment and reserve engines and ambulances.
Fire Administration is housed at the City’s new Public Safety Building, a new facility to support the Palo Alto Police Department, Palo Alto Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services.
New! Palo Alto Fire is Hiring Soon
PAFD is advancing the City’s Emergency Medical Services through establishment of single-role EMT/Paramedic staffing and ambulance transport. Be on the cutting edge of this new staffing model! Fire Department is opening recruitment for new positions focused on single-role EMT/Paramedic staffing and ambulance transport in mid-June.
Join Palo Alto Fire Medic 1
The Palo Alto Fire Department is launching Palo Alto Fire Medic 1, a new single-function EMS provider role focused on delivering high-paced, high-quality emergency medical service to the Palo Alto community. Both Paramedics and EMTs are encouraged to apply. Selected candidates will move forward through a competitive recruitment process and into the Palo Alto Fire Medic 1 EMS Academy, anticipated to begin in early fall. The initial program will include four full-time positions and five part-time positions. Full-time staff will work 12-hour shifts, and part-time staff will provide coverage as needed. The first Fire Medic 1 ambulance will operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
PAFD is committed to investing in our EMS providers through state-of-the-art equipment, best-in-the-nation training, strong EMS and medical direction, data-driven after-action reviews, competitive wages and benefits, and a culture built on professionalism, education, and service. This is an opportunity to help launch a new EMS program and be part of a high-performing team dedicated to excellent patient care.
Come be part of Team PAFD.
Be notified when the position officially opens.
Submit An Interest Form
Stay Informed of Upcoming Opportunities
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Strategic Plan: Fostering a Culture of Growth, Leadership and Excellence
PAFD recently completed its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, in pursuit of its vision to advance as a professional team committed to fostering a culture of growth, leadership, and excellence. By building on the values and traditions of Palo Alto Fire, we will ensure our legacy extends to future generations. We commit to providing our community with a robust, all-risk service model and strive to be an industry leader that is resilient in health, wellness, and operation. Learn more about the department through reviewing our Strategic Plan(PDF, 10MB).