Lateral Entry Firefighter - Savannah Fire Department

This position performs firefighting activities, including combating and extinguishing fires, rescuing persons, and salvaging
property in emergencies, training with and maintaining equipment, assisting in fire prevention activities, and controlling
and containing hazardous substances.



The City of Savannah offers an excellent benefits package, including twelve (12) paid holidays, medical, dental, and
vision insurance, wellness programs, education reimbursement, employer home purchase assistance, employee referral
program, 457B deferred benefit contribution plan, Georgia Firefighter Pension Fund, Georgia Firefighter Cancer Benefit
program, accident Insurance, cancer Insurance, critical illness insurance, legal Insurance, and City Pension

• Responds to calls for fire, medical, hazmat, rescue, and other natural and/or man-made emergencies.
• Carry out commands and tasks necessary to mitigate the emergency safely and efficiently; perform all duties and tasks assigned by supervisors.
• Provide immediate lifesaving care while awaiting additional EMS resources to arrive. Aids higher-level EMS personnel on the scene at emergencies.
• Maintains competence in specialized training required for specialty unit assignments; participates, develops, and leads training drills/classes; maintains readiness to respond to high-risk/low-frequency incidents; maintains recertification.
• Conducts Community Risk Reduction: public service calls, customer surveys, recruiting events, blood pressure checks, home safety surveys, smoke detector installation, fire plans, community meetings, school events, Fire safety talks, and apparatus displays.
• Cleans and maintains equipment: bunker gear cleaning, self-contained breathing apparatus maintenance, industrial firefighting equipment, pump service, hose testing, extrication equipment, etc.
• Performs station cleaning and maintenance duties, including cleaning windows and overhead doors, dormitories, apparatus floors, equipment and tools, the kitchen, brass cleaning of fire poles, and stripping, waxing, and buffing floors.
• Conducts station tours and walk-up blood pressure checks.
• After completing a driver operator task book, serves as a relief driver.
• Drives and operates fire apparatus for emergency and non-emergency incidents.
• Conducts vehicle inspections, maintenance, and records management.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

To qualify as a Lateral Firefighter, at the time of application, you must be:

• Currently employed as a full-time paid firefighter by a state, county, or municipal fire department.
• At least two (2) years (full-time) paid firefighting experience while employed full-time by a state, county, or 
  municipal fire department.
• Twenty (20) years of age at the time of hire.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Successful completion and passing of a background check
• Must successfully pass the Lateral Performance Assessment (LPA) before being hired 
• NPQ or IFSAC Firefighter 1 and 2.
• NPQ or IFSAC Hazmat Awareness and Operations.
  • Reciprocity is available through the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council.
  • 409 (7) “Reciprocity” means the process of reviewing training documentation provided to GFSTC by a candidate or a department requesting the opportunity to enter a training program at the next higher level above the level being requested, or credit for prior training to be considered toward registration/certification
• Preferred NREMT Basic or GA equivalent.
  • If not NREMT Basic or GA equivalent, shall complete EMTB within the first available department-sponsored class.
• Valid driver’s license with a satisfactory motor vehicle record and the ability to upgrade the license to a Class E license.
  • Must obtain a Georgia State license within 90 days.
• Successful completion of the 4-week lateral recruit academy.
• Successful completion of one (1) year probation period beginning on the hire date.
• Successful completion of FEMA-required NIMS courses (100, 700, and 800) by the end of the academy, if not already obtained.

• Lateral entry with two (2) years of prior service with or without the NREMT Basic or GA equivalent:
  • Enter at Step 1 ($59,724.00)
    • If not State of Georgia or NREMTB, shall complete EMTB within the first available department-sponsored class

    • Eligible for promotion after two (2) years of SFD service and meeting all requirements for the SFD Fire Engineer promotional opportunity.

• Lateral entry with two (2) years of prior service and possess AEMT or higher:
  • Enter at Step 2 ($61,216.00)

    • Eligible for promotion after two (2) years of SFD service and meeting all requirements for the SFD Fire Engineer promotional opportunity.