Thousands expected to apply for 90 Detroit firefighter openings

It’s one of the most grueling, dangerous, unappreciated jobs in Detroit.

And if city predictions hold true, thousands of metro Detroiters will apply for 90 new firefighter positions that opened up in the nation’s busiest fire department.

The job pays between $29,352 and $47,913 a year.

For many, it’s the job of a lifetime. Detroit firefighters are considered among the elite in the country because they battle so many fires, a vast majority of which are intentionally set.

For others, it’s decent pay for a job that only requires a high school diploma or GED.

But landing the job won’t be easy with just 90 openings. Applicants will have to pass a series of oral, written and physical tests.

The fire department is so dangerously understaffed that the federal government awarded the city a record $22.5 million grant more than a year ago to hire new firefighters.

The hiring process was bungled by Fire Commissioner Don Austin’s administration because of his controversial plan to outsource a major component of the training and exam that prospective firefighters take to determine whether they are fit for the job.

The deadline to apply is Oct .26.

Click here to learn more about the job.

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Steve Neavling

Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.

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