Denton Fire Department

The Denton Fire Department has served the city since 1874. Fire Chief Kenneth Hedges. The Fire page (retrieved 2026-09-03) credits 235 sworn personnel and support staff; a city newsflash posted 2025-04-04 says 235 dedicated personnel across nine fire stations. ISO Class 1 rating effective October 1. CAAS accreditation in August 2025. Core values: Respect, Integrity, Courage, and Humility (RICH). Live mission on the Fire page: "The Denton Fire Department is a team of dedicated professionals who serve to protect lives and property in our community." An older about on this listing said: "To protect life, property, and the environment through prevention, education, and emergency response." Population: the Fire Chief's message says the population is now approaching 166,000 (https://www.cityofdenton.com/294/Fire, retrieved 2026-09-03); the 2025-04-04 newsflash says nearly 170,000 residents (https://www.cityofdenton.com/m/newsflash/home/detail/1004); an older about on this listing said approximately 159,000. The newsflash describes a response area of almost 100 square miles; an older about said 100+ square miles. The next Fire civil-service exam is in 2026 at a time and place yet to be determined. The door is the waiting list at https://www.cityofdenton.com/582/Fire-Department-Careers, not an open exam.

$108,014

Top of the entry rank

Fire Fighter

Source: lfpubweb.cityofdenton.com as of Jan 3, 2026, checked Aug 18, 2026.

Overtime

Time-and-a-half after 106 hours per 14-day FLSA work period

Incentive pay

• Paramedic certification: +$3,600/yr
• Hazmat technician: +$1,800/yr
• Technical rescue: +$1,800/yr
• Bilingual (Spanish): +$1,200/yr

Fire Fighter

Step A

$86,028.80

Step B (2 yrs)

$90,438.40

Step C (3 yrs)

$94,827.20

Step D (4 yrs)

$99,216.00

Step E (5 yrs)

$103,625.60

Step F (7 yrs)

$108,014.40

Fire Driver

At Promotion

$111,259.20

2 Yrs in Rank

$114,316.80

4 Yrs in Rank

$117,374.40

Fire Lieutenant

At Promotion

$123,905.60

2 Yrs in Rank

$126,900.80

4 Yrs in Rank

$129,896.00

Fire Captain

At Promotion

$135,470.40

2 Yrs in Rank

$139,505.60

4 Yrs in Rank

$143,540.80

Fire Battalion Chief

At Promotion

$154,356.80

2 Yrs in Rank

$159,182.40

4 Yrs in Rank

$164,008.00

Assistant Fire Chief

Minimum

$171,953.60

Midpoint

$186,357.60

Maximum

$200,761.60

• Figures are from the FY 2025-2026 Civil Service Fire Pay Plan, effective January 3, 2026 (Laserfiche DocView id=76168). The City of Denton NEOGOV Fire Fighter-Recruit posting (job 26-0000000306, retrieved 2026-08-18) prints the same Step A rate of $86,028.80 annually.
• Fire Fighter step increases are based on anniversary date. Driver, Lieutenant, Captain, and Battalion Chief steps are based on time in rank.
• The city uses a 14-day work period. Per FLSA, overtime applies after 106 hours worked in the period.
• Incentive pay, educational pay, and longevity pay are offered in addition to base salary, per the city's careers page.
• The sworn promotional ladder in this plan runs Fire Fighter, Fire Driver, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, Fire Battalion Chief, and Assistant Fire Chief.
• Assistant Fire Chief is the one exempt rank on the plan. It is appointed by the Fire Chief, who sets the salary within the published range, so it carries a minimum, midpoint, and maximum instead of steps.
• The same plan sets the department's fire marshal track at the same salary figures under its own pay grades: Deputy Fire Marshal I matches the Fire Fighter steps, Deputy Fire Marshal II matches Fire Driver, Assistant Fire Marshal and Community Risk Reduction Officer match Fire Captain, and Emergency Management Program Manager and Fire Marshal match Fire Battalion Chief.

Health Insurance

United Healthcare PPO with two plan options (Elm and Oak), prescription drug coverage included

Dental & Vision

Humana dental with orthodontia and vision coverage, 50,000+ network locations

DFRRF Pension

Denton Firemen's Relief & Retirement Fund: employee 12.60% and city 18.50% of pay, 91.1% funded as of the 12/31/2023 actuarial valuation, retire at 50 with 20 years of service

Paid Time Off

15 hrs/mo vacation and sick leave, 11 holidays + 2 personal floating days. Confirm the current shift calendar with recruiting.

Tuition Reimbursement

100% reimbursement up to $5,250/yr at accredited institutions, eligible after 6 months

Parental Leave

6 weeks paid at 100% base pay for birth, adoption, or foster placement

Wellness & Fitness

On-duty fitness time, annual physicals, Marathon Health employee clinic at no cost, free rec center memberships

Life & Disability

1x salary life + AD&D and long-term disability at 60% pay, both city-paid through Symetra

Union Representation

Denton Fire Fighter's Association, IAFF Local 1291, with Meet and Confer agreement and labor management privileges under Texas Chapter 142

Denton firefighters are members of the Denton Firemen's Relief and Retirement Fund, a single-employer defined benefit pension plan authorized by the Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act and administered by the fund's Board of Trustees. The Texas Pension Review Board (plan 117, retrieved 2026-08-18) reports an employee contribution of 12.60 percent of pay and an employer contribution of 18.50 percent of pay. Benefits fully vest after 20 years of credited service, and firefighters may retire at age 50 with 20 years of service. The formula is 2.59 percent of the highest 36-month average salary for each year of credited service. The December 31, 2023 actuarial valuation (Rudd and Wisdom, letter dated September 16, 2024; City of Denton Archive ADID 811) reported a funded ratio of 91.1 percent. The fund publishes audited financial statements and actuarial studies on its public site.

Age

At least 18 and not yet 36 (ages 18 through 35) as of the date of the entrance exam, under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 143

Education

High school diploma or GED equivalent required

Driver's License

Valid Texas driver's license with acceptable driving record

To be hired

To be hired, a candidate must possess either a Basic Firefighter certification from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) plus a current EMT-Basic certification or higher from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), or a current Paramedic certification or license from DSHS. Licensed paramedics hired without fire certification attend fire school after hire. All operations personnel must become TCFP Basic Firefighters.

Physical ability

Department-specific physical ability test after background and polygraph. Not the IAFF/IAFC CPAT.

Background

Background investigation and polygraph. Packets go to the highest exam scores in numbers needed to fill the next step.

Residency

No residency or mileage requirement.

Citizenship

U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the United States

Texas certification

Certifications must be held through the Texas commissions. Out-of-state candidates transfer through TCFP and DSHS reciprocity.

Already certified

Certified firefighters are not required to attend another fire academy.

Paramedic path

Licensed paramedics hired without fire certification attend fire school after hire. All operations personnel must become TCFP Basic Firefighters.

Cost after hire

There is no financial cost to the candidate for certification schooling needed after hire.

• Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 143↗
• TCFP certification transfer↗
• DSHS EMS reciprocity↗

1. 01

   Join the waiting list

   The city notifies waiting-list members of employment opportunities and the next Civil Service Exam.

   • Official waiting list signup↗
2. 02

   Fire Civil Service Entrance Exam

   Denton is a Texas Local Government Code Chapter 143 civil service city. The last Fire Civil Service Exam was held January 10, 2026; the next date is not posted, and the city FAQ line that the next exam will take place in 2026 predates the January exam. Entrance exam scores are good for one year.

   • Exam study guides (Fire & Police Selection, Inc.)↗
3. 03

   Background packet and polygraph

   Background packets are provided at the test as a link to an online form, issued to the highest scores in sufficient numbers to fill vacancies. A background investigation and polygraph follow.

4. 04

   Physical ability test

   The physical ability test is scheduled after the background and polygraph steps are completed.

5. 05

   Certification and hire

   Certified firefighters do not repeat the fire academy. Licensed Paramedics hired without fire certification attend fire school after hire, and any schooling for certifications a new hire needs is covered by the department. The overall timeline depends on vacancies and typically runs several months.

Stages run in the order the department publishes them

Start with the current city notice and any study material it names. Use Ready to Serve practice aids for rehearsal, then confirm dates and requirements on the official pages.

Fire school after hire

After hire, if needed

Certified firefighters do not repeat fire school. Licensed paramedics hired without fire certification attend fire school after hire. Schooling for certifications needed after hire is covered by the department.

Continuing Education

Ongoing

Annual training requirements include 20 hours of TCFP CE, NREMT recertification, and department-specific training on special operations.

Officer Development

Structured promotional pathway through Fire Driver, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, and Assistant Chief with formal assessment centers.

Degree Programs

Partnerships with University of North Texas and NCTC for Fire Science, Emergency Management, and Public Administration degree programs with flexible scheduling for shift workers.

• Station 1 (Central)

  332 E. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201

  Opened at its current location in 2003 in a renovated building that once housed Denton's first power plant. Houses department administration, the emergency operations center, and Texas' first electric fire truck.

  Source: City of Denton facilities directory, Fire Station 1, checked Aug 11, 2026

• Station 2

  110 Mockingbird Ln., Denton, TX 76209

  Apparatus

  • Engine 2
  • Medic 2

  The current building opened in 2017 at McKinney Street and Mockingbird Lane, the intersection Station 2 has served since 1978.

  Source: City of Denton facilities directory, Fire Station 2, checked Aug 11, 2026

• Station 3

  1401 Underwood St., Denton, TX 76201

  Apparatus

  • Engine 3
  • Medic 3
  • ARFF 3
  • Battalion Chief

  A facility of more than 16,000 square feet built for future growth, with quarters for a second battalion chief who supervises the west side of the city.

  Source: City of Denton facilities directory, Fire Station 3, checked Aug 11, 2026

• Station 4

  2116 E. Sherman Dr., Denton, TX 76209

  Protects northeast Denton. The current station opened in June 2018, replacing the original station built in the 1960s.

  Source: City of Denton facilities directory, Fire Station 4, checked Aug 11, 2026

• Station 5

  2230 W. Windsor Dr., Denton, TX 76201

  Apparatus

  • Engine 5
  • Medic 5
  • Brush 5
  • Boat 5

  Built in 1990 in North Lakes Park and dedicated to Chief Jack Gentry. Serves the northwest corner of the city.

  Source: City of Denton facilities directory, Fire Station 5, checked Aug 11, 2026

• Station 6

  3232 Teasley Ln., Denton, TX 76201

  Apparatus

  • Engine 6
  • Medic 6

  Opened in 1993 to serve southeast Denton along the Teasley corridor, staffed with 5 to 6 firefighters daily.

  Source: City of Denton facilities directory, Fire Station 6, checked Aug 11, 2026

• Station 7

  4201 Vintage Blvd., Argyle, TX 76226

  Apparatus

  • Engine 7
  • Medic 7
  • Brush 7

  Opened April 30, 2007 beside the department's training facility. Covers southwest Denton along I-35W with a minimum of five personnel.

  Source: City of Denton facilities directory, Fire Station 7, checked Aug 11, 2026

• Station 8

  3113 Colorado Blvd., Denton, TX 76210

  Apparatus

  • Engine 8
  • Medic 8

  Opened in February 2021 to serve southeast Denton's medical corridor, staffed with 5 to 6 firefighters daily.

  Source: City of Denton facilities directory, Fire Station 8, checked Aug 11, 2026

• Station 9

  Address not published in the official directory

  Fire Station 9 opened in 2024. A street address is not yet published in the city's facilities directory.

  Source: City of Denton, Fire Department, checked Aug 11, 2026

The department patch is shown to identify the agency. Station and crew photos will be added only after written authorization from the Denton Fire Department. This page is hosted by Ready to Serve; every fact above carries its public source.

159,000

Population

$340,000

Median home price

95

Cost-of-living index

• Home to University of North Texas (42,000+ students) and Texas Woman's University
• Vibrant live music scene, historic downtown square, and Denton Arts & Jazz Festival
• 35 miles north of Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with DCTA A-train commuter rail
• Denton ISD and multiple charter school options for families
• Over 2,000 acres of parks, green space, and access to Lake Lewisville and Ray Roberts
• One of the fastest-growing cities in North Texas with a strong small-business community

Held

ISO Class 1 Public Protection Ratingsince 2025

Held

CFAI/CPSE Internationally Accredited Agency

Held

CAAS EMS Accreditationsince 2025

Held

Texas Fire Chiefs Association Member

Held

NFPA Compliant Operations

Held

AHA Training Center

• How to Become a Firefighter in Texas (2026)35 min readOpen
• Texas Civil Service Firefighter Exam: A 4-Week Plan11 min readOpen
• Texas Firefighter Salary 2026: What 180 Departments Pay22 min readOpen
• What TCFP Certification Is (and How Out-of-State Seals Transfer)10 min readOpen

Applications, testing dates and eligibility decisions are handled by the department. Ready to Serve does not take applications, forward candidates, or speak for any agency.

Official site

https://www.cityofdenton.com/582/Fire-Department-Careers↗

Recruiting email

firerecruiter@cityofdenton.com

Phone

(940) 349-8840