Brownsville Firefighter Hiring 2026: Window Closed

Employment with Brownsville Fire, marked UPDATED 10/30/2025, prints NOTICE OF FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC ENTRANCE EXAM TO BE ANNOUNCED. The 2025 notice is still posted. Registration closed September 12, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Exam was Friday, September 26, 2025, 9:00 a.m. at the Brownsville Events Center. That eligibility list is valid one year, through September 26, 2026. Hire from that list until it expires. The 2025 notice is not a 2026 apply-now posting.

Register for the next sitting at civilservice@brownsvilletx.gov when a new notice posts. Karina Mendoza, 956-548-6093. Chapter 143 civil service email is the fire door. It is not the careers ATS.

Official hub: brownsvilletx.gov/374/Fire-Department. Stations: 1900/Fire-Stations. Fire Chief Jarrett Sheldon (hub spelling; staff page Jarret V. Sheldon). HQ 956-546-3195, fax 956-546-8539, dispatch 956-548-7000, Fire Marshal 956-548-6075. Department listing: Brownsville Fire Department. The live slug is brownsville-fire-department. /departments/brownsville-fire-rescue is not this department. The older TFS path cob.us/374 is not the live hub. Texas order of operations: how to become a firefighter in Texas. TCFP explained: what is TCFP certification. EMT path: how to become an EMT in Texas. Nearby: How to become a firefighter in McAllen.

What You Need Before You Apply

Job title is FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC. TCFP and EMT are not the sit-gate.

• Minimum 18 and not over 36 at the time of testing. No exceptions.
• High school diploma or GED. Read and write English.
• Eligible for future TCFP certification. You do not need TCFP or EMT to sit.
• TCFP and/or National Registry or TDSHS paramedic submitted at registration add extra points. They do not open or close the door.
• Veteran +5 with DD-214 at registration (180 days active, honorable, TLGC 143.025).
• If Civil Service rejected you in the prior 24 months, you are ineligible this cycle.

Does Brownsville Use CPAT?

No. After a passing exam, selected names run a department Brownsville Firefighter Physical Agility Test (PAT). It is not a CPAT card you bring. Event times and the time cap are unpublished. Train the department PAT when the next notice posts.

Specs for the standard eight-event CPAT: CPAT vs firefighter physical ability tests.

How Long Is the Academy?

The city has not published a recruit-academy week count. Older copies of this page printed 12 to 16 weeks.

Stations, headcount, and retirement

The city directory lists nine stations. Older copies of this page said ten. Texas A&M Forest Service Fireconnect lists a Station 10 at 500 Hidalgo Ave (last verified July 5, 2024). The city page does not.

1. 1000 E Adams, 78520
2. 500 W St. Charles, 78520
3. 804 Hortencia Blvd, 78520
4. 605 Old Alice Rd, 78520
5. 50 S Vermillion Avenue, 78520
6. 1100 Old Port Isabel Rd, 78521
7. 1863 Military Highway, 78520
8. 1855 Capt Donald L Foust Rd, 78520
9. 69 E Alton Gloor, 78526

Authorized sworn in the adopted FY26 tables is 206 (general-fund admin 11 + ops 99 + EMS 85 = 195, plus airport-fund fire 11). TCFP appointed 204, FDID 290. TFS paid 206, last verified July 5, 2024. Those three counts are not the same number; they are not averaged. TFS 217 folds in volunteer admin; that is not sworn. A year-stamped call volume is unpublished. The department dates to 1875 on the city's 150th recognition. ISO class is unpublished.

Pension: City of Brownsville TMRS, employee 7 percent, city match 2-to-1, vest 5 years, 20-and-out. No Brownsville Fire TLFFRA / Firemen's Relief plan was found. Shift is unpublished. A 24/48 schedule is not a BFD-adopted line on the hub.

Union: Brownsville Firefighters Association Local 970 (CBA signed October 21, 2025; President Joe Huerta).

What To Do While the Window Is Closed

Watch Employment. When the next notice posts, register at civilservice@brownsvilletx.gov. The September 12 / September 26 2025 dates on the old notice are not a 2026 apply door if you are not already on that list. If you are on the 2025 list, it runs through September 26, 2026. You do not need TCFP or EMT to sit the next exam. Existing TCFP or paramedic cards are extra points. Train a department PAT, not a CPAT card. Do not apply on the city careers ATS for fire. Ready to Serve is the candidate tracker for certifications, PAT fitness, and application materials.

Related

• How to become a firefighter in Texas
• What is TCFP certification
• How to become an EMT in Texas
• CPAT vs firefighter physical ability tests
• How to become a firefighter in McAllen, Texas
• How to become a firefighter in Laredo, Texas

Sources

• City of Brownsville, Employment with Brownsville Fire Department. NOTICE OF FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC ENTRANCE EXAM TO BE ANNOUNCED. UPDATED 10/30/2025. Register at civilservice@brownsvilletx.gov. Retrieved 2026-08-21; re-read 2026-09-03.
• City of Brownsville, Notice of Firefighter/Paramedic Entry-Level Exam 2025. Register by September 12, 2025, 5:00 p.m. Exam Friday September 26, 2025, 9:00 a.m., Brownsville Events Center. List one year through September 26, 2026. Future TCFP eligibility. Age 18 and not over 36 at testing. Department PAT. Extra points for TCFP and/or paramedic. Posted 2025-08-08. Retrieved 2026-08-21; re-read 2026-09-03 (not a 2026 apply-now posting).
• City of Brownsville careers ATS, Job search. 30 city jobs 2026-09-03, 0 firefighter / cadet / paramedic. Fire Administration Administrative Specialist is clerical. 2026-08-29: 31 city / 0 fire. 2026-08-21: 33 city / 0 fire. Retrieved 2026-08-29; re-read 2026-09-03.
• City of Brownsville, Fire Department hub. Chief Jarrett Sheldon. HQ 956-546-3195. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• City of Brownsville, Fire Stations. Stations 1-9. No Station 10 on the city page. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• City of Brownsville, Administrative Staff. Fire Chief Jarret V. Sheldon. Deputy Eugenio Cardenas. Shift assistant chiefs A Mario A. Guerrero, B Alejandro J. Martinez, C Samuel A. Padilla. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• Texas Municipal Retirement System, Brownsville city plan. Employee 7 percent, city match 2-to-1. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• Texas A&M Forest Service Fireconnect, department 1562. Paid 206. Last verified July 5, 2024. Stale website cob.us/374/FireDepartment. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• Texas Commission on Fire Protection, departments by size. Brownsville Fire Department FDID 290, 204 appointed. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• City of Brownsville, FY 2026 Adopted Budget, DocumentCenter 17198 (letter 2025-10-01). Sworn 206 from adopted FTE tables. Established 1875 / 150th. Retrieved 2026-08-21. Pay omitted.