Membership

Steps you can take:

- Fill out an application online at the link below (required)
- Attend an Informational meeting - TBD @ 7PM at 1825 Howard Drive (not required) 
- Take a written test - TBD @ 7PM at 1825 Howard Drive (required) 

FILL OUT AN APPLICATION ONLINE
 
Informational meeting

The North Mankato Fire Department holds informational meetings to discuss what it means to be a North Mankato firefighter.  At this meeting, many details and expectations will be shared.  The meeting will be held at station 2 at 1825 Howard Drive in North Mankato (by the Caswell softball fields). If you miss this meeting, there still is an opportunity to get this information by emailing the North Mankato Fire Department Chief using the Contact Us page.

If you have already completed all or some of the required classes, please fill out an application online and contact the NMFD chief on the contact us page to discuss the next steps of a possible hire.

Role of a FireFighter

Every day, firefighters are called to serve a civic duty, which is to protect citizens in a time of crisis. Firefighters are one of the more well-rounded and versatile emergency task forces in the world. Their goal is "to serve and to protect".  The following are a firefighter's job description and duties.

Description

Firefighters protect the lives of others when danger strikes. Traditionally, this is when a fire breaks out, but also includes many other types of emergency situations including vehicle accidents, confined space, rope and water rescues. Firefighters are called first responders for a reason. Typically, they are the first to respond to an emergency. Because of that, firefighters must handle a broad range of emergency situations as well as the mass hysteria that blooms out of a severe accident.

Education

Prospective firefighters must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma. Prospective firefighters should fill out an application online or at the North Mankato City offices (1001 Belgrade Ave.).  Prospective firefighters will take the entrance fire exam.  The exam includes a written section, tests of physical fitness, a medical evaluation and an interview with the officer group and trustees. Applicants with the highest scores will be scheduled for weeks of formal training.

Duties

Volunteer firefighters have other full-time jobs, but they fill a great need by assisting full-time employees in the time of a crisis or major fire. The duties of a North Mankato firefighter are to safely handle a fire, rope rescue, ice-water rescue, and auto extrication. First, the firefighting team must save any citizen in danger or trapped inside the infrastructure. Second, the firefighters must handle the fire, and put out the flames with as minimal damage as possible to the infrastructure and no personal harm. Sometimes firefighters are stuck in a dangerous situation and even worse, some lose their lives while trying to save others.

Types of Firefighting

The majority of fires are either classified as structure fires or wilderness fires. Both are handled differently. Usually individuals are put in danger in house fires. Even if everyone is evacuated, the home owners stand the risk of losing everything in their home. Wild fires are much broader and harder to contain. Wild fires can change directions in a matter of moments and destroying hundreds of acres with little effort.