DURHAM, N.C. — When a call comes into Durham Fire Station 4, within 90 seconds, the crew is suited up, out of the garage and on their way to respond to the emergency. 

The City of Durham Fire Department's recruitment push ends on April 30. The department is looking to add 10 entry-level firefighters ready to serve the community.

What You Need To Know

  • The City of Durham Fire Department is working to diversify their recruiting class

  • Less than one in five firefighters employed with the department are Black

  • Applications for the City of Durham Fire Department close on April 30

Station 4 is one of 19 fire stations in Durham. On average, they respond to seven to 10 calls per shift. A good portion of the calls that come in are for Emergency Medical Services. 

Justin Totten is a driver for Squad 4 with the department. 

"The city is also a paramedic level provider, so the ambulance comes, they can do some additional treatments and testing and make a decision on transport to whatever hospital is suitable to the call," Totten said. 

Firefighters in the Bull City are certified to provide Advance Life Saving Treatment. 

"We also have our trauma equipment, anything from a bandage to a simple roll of cling up to a tourniquet, pressure dressings and so forth. We have medications that can be given orally or muscularly… just depending on the type of call we get dispatched to," Totten said. 

An entry-level firefighter is required to go through 34 weeks of training, but training doesn't stop after the academy. 

Carter, who chooses to only identify by that name, has been with the department for three years. When they're not out on a call, Carter says they find ways to keep their skills on par. 

"We check pretty much every piece of equipment, making sure everything looks good, because we can get a call right at seven and we have to be ready to go," Carter said. 

Carter is also involved with recruitment and is working to bring a more diverse group of recruits into the department. 

Currently the department has 403 firefighters, with females making up 6.9% of the department and less than one in five being Black. 

Starting salary for entry-level recruits has increase to $40,682. The department is holding practice agility sessions through April 28. Pre-registration is required.