{"id":7505,"date":"2025-08-07T16:24:53","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T16:24:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/07\/columbia-richland-fire-department-now-hiring-firefighters\/"},"modified":"2025-08-07T16:24:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T16:24:53","slug":"columbia-richland-fire-department-now-hiring-firefighters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/07\/columbia-richland-fire-department-now-hiring-firefighters\/","title":{"rendered":"Columbia-Richland Fire Department Now Hiring Firefighters"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"132\" data-end=\"238\"><em data-start=\"132\" data-end=\"148\">Columbia, S.C.<\/em> &ndash; If you&#8217;ve ever dreamed of becoming a firefighter, now&rsquo;s your chance to answer the call.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"240\" data-end=\"590\">The <strong data-start=\"244\" data-end=\"288\">Columbia-Richland Fire Department (CRFD)<\/strong> has reopened its application period for new hires. Both entry-level applicants and experienced firefighters are encouraged to apply. Candidates with prior experience and the necessary certifications may qualify for CRFD&rsquo;s <strong data-start=\"511\" data-end=\"534\">Direct Hire Program<\/strong>, which fast-tracks certified firefighters into service.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"592\" data-end=\"709\">All applicants will be considered for a spot in the department&rsquo;s next <strong data-start=\"662\" data-end=\"680\">Recruit School<\/strong>, set to begin in early 2026.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"711\" data-end=\"738\"><strong data-start=\"711\" data-end=\"738\">Starting Pay &amp; Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"739\" data-end=\"997\">\n<li data-start=\"739\" data-end=\"785\">\n<p data-start=\"741\" data-end=\"785\"><strong data-start=\"741\" data-end=\"765\">Base starting salary<\/strong>: $43,800 per year<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"786\" data-end=\"859\">\n<p data-start=\"788\" data-end=\"859\"><strong data-start=\"788\" data-end=\"814\">Non-certified recruits<\/strong> will earn $34,900 annually during training<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"860\" data-end=\"952\">\n<p data-start=\"862\" data-end=\"952\"><strong data-start=\"862\" data-end=\"879\">Incentive pay<\/strong> is available for those with associate, bachelor&rsquo;s, or master&rsquo;s degrees<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"953\" data-end=\"997\">\n<p data-start=\"955\" data-end=\"997\"><strong data-start=\"955\" data-end=\"971\">Overtime pay<\/strong> opportunities available<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1061\">CRFD firefighters receive a wide range of benefits, including:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1062\" data-end=\"1527\">\n<li data-start=\"1062\" data-end=\"1145\">\n<p data-start=\"1064\" data-end=\"1145\">Affordable healthcare through <strong data-start=\"1094\" data-end=\"1105\">SC PEBA<\/strong>, covering medical, dental, and vision<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1146\" data-end=\"1181\">\n<p data-start=\"1148\" data-end=\"1181\">Paid holidays and vacation time<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1182\" data-end=\"1246\">\n<p data-start=\"1184\" data-end=\"1246\">Membership in the <strong data-start=\"1202\" data-end=\"1244\">South Carolina State Retirement System<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1247\" data-end=\"1302\">\n<p data-start=\"1249\" data-end=\"1302\">Access to <strong data-start=\"1259\" data-end=\"1273\">401(k)\/457<\/strong> retirement savings options<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1303\" data-end=\"1369\">\n<p data-start=\"1305\" data-end=\"1369\"><strong data-start=\"1305\" data-end=\"1329\">Free gym memberships<\/strong> and access to city fitness facilities<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1370\" data-end=\"1412\">\n<p data-start=\"1372\" data-end=\"1412\">Paid training and continuing education<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1413\" data-end=\"1443\">\n<p data-start=\"1415\" data-end=\"1443\">Flexible spending accounts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1444\" data-end=\"1514\">\n<p data-start=\"1446\" data-end=\"1514\">Automatic membership in the <strong data-start=\"1474\" data-end=\"1512\">SC State Firefighters&rsquo; Association<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1515\" data-end=\"1527\">\n<p data-start=\"1517\" data-end=\"1527\">And more<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1529\" data-end=\"1653\">Applicants can visit <strong data-start=\"1550\" data-end=\"1589\"><a class=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/colafire.net\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"1552\" data-end=\"1587\">colafire.net<\/a><\/strong> to access the City of Columbia&rsquo;s career portal and apply under:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1654\" data-end=\"1834\">\n<li data-start=\"1654\" data-end=\"1766\">\n<p data-start=\"1656\" data-end=\"1766\"><strong data-start=\"1656\" data-end=\"1681\">Certified Firefighter<\/strong> (for those with Firefighter I and II certification through IFSAC or Pro Board), or<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1767\" data-end=\"1834\">\n<p data-start=\"1769\" data-end=\"1834\"><strong data-start=\"1769\" data-end=\"1798\">Non-Certified Firefighter<\/strong> (for those new to the profession)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1836\" data-end=\"2010\">Certified applicants entering through the Direct Hire Program will attend a condensed academy, allowing them to join the department in less time than the full recruit school.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2012\" data-end=\"2127\"><strong data-start=\"2012\" data-end=\"2026\">Questions?<\/strong> Contact CRFD Recruiting Officer <strong data-start=\"2059\" data-end=\"2075\">James Bostic<\/strong> at 803-545-3331 or <strong data-start=\"2095\" data-end=\"2126\"><a class=\"cursor-pointer\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"2097\" data-end=\"2124\">james.bostic@columbiasc.gov<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2129\" data-end=\"2295\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Now&rsquo;s the time to take the first step toward a rewarding career in public service. Join the Columbia-Richland Fire Department and help protect the community you love.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Columbia, S.C. &ndash; If you&#8217;ve ever dreamed of becoming a firefighter, now&rsquo;s your chance to answer the call. The Columbia-Richland Fire Department (CRFD) has reopened its application period for new hires. Both entry-level applicants and experienced firefighters are encouraged to apply. Candidates with prior experience and the necessary certifications may<span class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/07\/columbia-richland-fire-department-now-hiring-firefighters\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7506,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[44],"tags":[796,202],"class_list":["entry","author-john-griggs","post-7505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-public-safety","tag-columbia-richland-fire-department","tag-job-opportunity"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gpstrianglenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Firemen_2023_630x350.jpg?fit=630%2C350&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7505"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7505\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}