FWFD Careers

Are you interested in joining the Fort Wayne Fire Department (FWFD)?  While the FWFD is NOT currently hiring, it is never too early to learn more about the hiring process.  We are currently updating our website's tab "Career Opportunities".  Valuable information about the hiring process and career information can be found. 

No applications are available at this time.  You are encouraged to keep checking the website for further/updated information or call 260.427.1102 with questions. 

Winter Weather Safety Tips

The Fort Wayne Fire Department Reminds Residents to Stay Warm and Safe During Cold Weather

The Fort Wayne Fire Department wants everyone to stay safe and warm during winter weather and offers the following safety tips on how to best care for yourself and your family when temperatures plummet:

Protect Yourself:
• Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, which will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat.
• Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves.
• Wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
• Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice
and snow.
• If working outside, take frequent breaks and stay hydrated.

Protect Yourself at Home:
• Be careful with candles – do not use candles for lighting if the power goes out.  Use flashlights only.
• Use generators correctly –never operate a generator inside your home, including the basement garage or porch. Run the generator as far away from the house as possible and point the exhaust away from open doors and windows to avoid potential carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Install and/or check carbon monoxide detectors.
• Prevent frozen pipes - when the weather is very cold outside, open cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around water pipes. Let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Never attempt to thaw pipes using a blow torch or any open flame device.  Use warm water or a UL-listed device such as a hand-held hair dryer. 
• Keep the thermostat set to a consistent temperature.
• Check smoke alarms once a month by pressing the test button and replace batteries as necessary.
• Don’t forget your pets.  If you can’t bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they can get to unfrozen water.
• If you plan on using an alternate heating source, never use a stove or oven to heat your home. 
• Keep a glass or metal fire screen around the fireplace and never leave a fireplace fire unattended. 
• If using a space heater, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to safely use the heater.  Place it on a level, hard, nonflammable surface.  Turn the space heater off when you leave the room or go to sleep.  Keep children and pets away from your space heater and do not use it to dry wet clothing.

Man Saved Meets Rescuers

With hopes of saying "thanks", Gary Smith of Whitley County contacted the Fort Wayne Fire Department asking to arrange an opportunity to shake hands with the firefighters who saved his life. 

Smith's ordeal began January 6, when he fell while cleaning an eighty foot silo at the Ag Plus facility at 5480 S. Raber Road and became trapped waist deep in soybeans.  While the fall was not traumatic, the weight of the beans prevented Smith from being pulled to safety.  The Fort Wayne Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team was dispatched to assist the Jefferson Township Fire Department with the rescue.  After more than eight hours, Smith was pulled to safety and transported to a local hospital in stable condition. 

On January 18, Smith and the firefighters that saved his life were reunited at a small reception hosted at IAFF Fort Wayne Firefighters Local 124's Union Hall. With more than 60 friends, family and co-workers attending, Smith got to shake hands with the firefighters involved in the rescue operation.  "Most grain falls don't have a happy ending,"  Smith said.  "The fact that I am here is a miracle.  You guys did a great job."

Deb Smith, Gary's wife, reiterated her and her family's gratefulness for the support, treatment and efforts made to save her husband.  "Not only did you save my husband's life, you saved my best friend.  We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you did for Gary."

While firefighters from both departments were grateful for the opportunity to meet Smith they insist their life-saving efforts were just part of their jobs. 

Gary Smith says, "I know personally they sure do one heck of a job." 

Gary continues to heal at home.  While still sore, he anxiously awaits approval to return to work. 

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

Carbon Monoxide safety tips

Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide.

Safety tips

• CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and mounting height.
• Choose a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Call your local fire department’s non-emergency number to find out what number to call if the CO alarm sounds.
• Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it. If it still sounds, call the fire department.
• If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel.
• If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.
• During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
• A generator should be used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings.
• Gas or charcoal grills can produce CO — only use outside.

Smoke Alarm Safety Tips

Smoke alarms save lives. Studies demonstrate that smoke alarms save more lives than any other fire prevention measure.  Smoke alarms provide the earliest warning of both fire and smoke.  Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.  When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. 

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires, and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms or a combination alarm (photoelectric and ionization) should be installed in homes.
• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturer's instructions for testing and maintenance.
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 year old or sooner if they do not respond properly.
• Be sure the smoke alarm has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Alarms that are hard-wired (and include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified electrician.
• If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a "hush" button. A "hush" button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time.
• An ionization alarm with a hush button or a photoelectric alarm should be used if the alarm is within 20 feet of a cooking appliance.
• Smoke alarms that include a recordable voice announcement in addition to the usual alarm sound, may be helpful in waking children through the use of a familiar voice.
• Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices use strobe lights. Vibration devices can be added to these alarms
• Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.