Evansville Fire Department seeks applicants, aims outreach at African American community

The Evansville Fire Department is accepting applications for firefighter positions through April 30, Deputy Chief of Administration Kim Garrett told the Evansville City Commission on March 27, and department staff asked the commission for help reaching the African American community.

Garrett said applications are available through a QR code and on the fire department website, and that the department is distributing brochures and exploring outreach through barbershop and community events. “Our applications are open through April 30. It's really easy to find on our, through there's a QR code or on our website, the fire department's website,” Garrett said.

The department described minimum qualifications and the selection process: applicants must be U.S. citizens, hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent, have a valid driver's license, and must be 21 by the time the eligibility list goes into effect (the list becomes effective Jan. 1, 2026). Garrett said applicants may not have felony convictions and must be hired before they turn 40. Candidates must pass a written test, an oral interview and a physical‑agility test; applicants are ranked by their scores.

Garrett said the department recently formed a recruitment and retention committee and is considering public-facing programs such as “fire ops 101,” an eight‑hour orientation the department runs for local officials and media to explain fireground operations. She also outlined outreach already underway: contact with university student communications staff to share postings, participation in career fairs, and possible collaboration with the barbershop health initiative and local community fairs.

Commissioners and other participants suggested additional contacts and venues for outreach, including youth organizations and neighborhood leaders. Garrett said the department has done career‑fair outreach at Ivy Tech and has contacted the University of Evansville communications officer to help share the application posting. She asked commissioners to notify known community leaders and partners that applications are open while the department continues to finalize its outreach plan.

The department did not provide a named contact person for application assistance at the meeting. Garrett repeated the application deadline and said staff will provide printed and electronic outreach materials for community events already on the commission’s calendar.

Applicants and community partners were directed to the Evansville Fire Department website for the application link and QR code; the department’s deadline for applications is April 30.