Fire Captain - Promotion

City of Reno; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Reno is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Fire Captain within the Reno Fire Department. Captains command firefighting companies, oversee equipment and stations, and may undertake administrative, training, or professional duties.

Applicants must meet one of two options: standard education with extensive firefighting and operator experience, or an Associate degree with completed academies and relevant certifications.

Qualifications

• Seven years of full-time suppression line experience as Firefighter.
• Successful completion of a promotional examination for Fire Equipment Operator.
• Seven years of combined full-time suppression line experience as Firefighter and Fire Equipment Operator.
• Possession of a valid Non-Commercial Class B Driver's License with an "F" endorsement.
• Possession of a Nevada or National Registry EMT certification or higher.
• Associate degree in fire science or a closely related field.
• Successful completion of City of Reno Aerial and Engine Academies.
• Successful completion of City of Reno Acting Captain Academy.
• S-231 Engine Boss course completion (certificate).
• ICS-300 (Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents) certificate.
• Incident Safety Officer (ISO) course completion.

Responsibilities

• Respond to alarms in assigned district and other districts as directed.
• Supervise and participate in laying hose, ladders, water streams, rescue and salvage operations.
• Direct routing and placement of apparatus at emergency scenes.
• Supervise maintenance of station and equipment.
• Prepare budget information at the company/station level.
• Enforce policy and procedure at the company level.
• Draft changes to policy and procedure.
• Maintain records and submit detailed reports to superiors.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate degree in fire science or closely related field

Job description

Position Summary

Reno Fire Department Captains have command of a firefighting company, its equipment, and station. They may be assigned administrative, training, or professional duties; participate in fire prevention and suppression activities; and perform related work as required.

Responsibilities

• Respond to all alarms in an assigned district and other districts as directed.


• Supervise and participate in the laying of hose, placing of ladders, controlling the pressure and direction of water streams, rescue and salvage operations.


• Direct the routing and placement of apparatus at emergency scenes.


• Supervise maintenance of station and equipment.


• Prepare budget information at the company/station level.


• Enforce policy and procedure at the company level.


• Draft changes to policy and procedure.


• Maintain records and submit detailed reports to superiors.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet either Option 1 or Option 2 below.

OPTION 1

Education

High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience

• Seven years of full-time suppression line experience as a Firefighter with the City of Reno Fire Department or the Reno-Tahoe International Airport or a combination of both agencies;


• Successful completion of a promotional examination (ranking on an eligible list) for Fire Equipment Operator on one of the last two most recent Operator examinations, which includes the 2025 and 2026 examination processes.


• Seven years of combined full-time suppression line experience as both a Firefighter and Fire Equipment Operator, with the City of Reno Fire Department, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, or a combination of both agencies.

License & Certification

• Possession of a valid Non-Commercial Class B Driver's License with an "F" endorsement.


• Possession of a valid Nevada or National Registry EMT certification or higher.

OPTION 2

Education

Associate degree in fire science or a closely related field.

Work Experience and Training

• Seven years of full-time suppression line experience with the City of Reno Fire Department, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, or a combination of both agencies.


• Successful completion of the City of Reno Aerial and Engine Academies.


• Successful completion of the City of Reno Acting Captain Academy.

License & Certifications

• Possession of a valid Non-Commercial Class B Driver's License with an "F" endorsement.


• Possession of a valid Nevada or National Registry EMT certification or higher.


• Possession of a valid S-231 (Engine Boss) course completion certificate (task book completion is not required).


• Possession of a valid ICS-300 (Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents) certificate.


• Possession of a valid Incident Safety Officer (ISO) course completion certificate (task book completion is not required).

All candidates must be a current Firefighter, Airport Firefighter, Fire Equipment Operator, or Airport Fire Equipment Operator employed by the City of Reno at the time of application through appointment to be eligible for promotion.

Examination Process

Examination dates are for planning purposes and may change at the discretion of Civil Service or Reno Fire Department. This promotional testing process will require candidates to appear in person to participate.

Written Examination

• Date: October 21, 2026


• Weight = 30% of final grade

The 12 highest-scoring candidates who pass the written examination will advance to the assessment center exercises. If more than one candidate is tied for the 12th-ranking position, those candidates will be re-ranked based on department seniority.

Assessment Center

• Assessment Center exercises are tentatively scheduled for the week of November 16, 2026.


• Weight = 70% of final grade

The scores from all assessment center exercises will be averaged to determine each candidate’s final assessment center score. Candidates must achieve a final average score of 70% or higher to pass the assessment center. A passing assessment center score is required to receive a passing final grade for the overall examination process.

Notification

Qualified applicants will be notified by email of the exact date, time, and location of the examination.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications will also be notified within two weeks of the job posting closing.

Testing Accommodation

We strive to ensure equal access for all individuals. If you require an accommodation due to a disability, you must inform the Chief Examiner by completing the Accommodation Request Form by the closing date of this announcement. All requests will be handled with confidentiality and respect.

Contact Information

Applicants are responsible for keeping the Reno Civil Service Commission informed of their current contact information including phone number, email, and mailing address.

Questions about the information on this announcement and updates to application information should be directed to Civil Service at [phone] or [e-mail].

Seniority Points

• Do not begin at the date of hire


• Begin only after you have met all required minimum qualifications for the position


• Are awarded only for full years of service and not awarded for partial or fractional years

Appointment and Certification

Appointments to positions in the City’s Civil Service system are made on the basis of examination. Scores resulting from a competitive examination are used in determining a person’s rank on an eligible register. The current certification rule in effect at the time a request is received by the Civil Service Commission will be used to refer names. The department may hire any of the persons referred. The names of those persons not hired may be considered when the next vacancy occurs, for as long as that register is viable.

Certification from a Fire Department promotional list is as follows: if the list contains fifteen (15) names or less, the ten (10) highest scoring eligibles; if the list contains more than fifteen (15) names, the eleven (11) highest scoring available eligibles; if the list contains fewer than ten (10) eligibles, all eligible names shall be submitted. If there is more than one vacancy, one (1) additional name shall be submitted for each vacancy.

Probationary Period

Certification of Eligibles, Appointments, and Probation: Classified employees who are newly hired, promoted, reclassified, transferred, or who voluntarily demote to a lower position are subject to a probation period.

The only exception is if an employee chooses to voluntarily demote back to the exact job they previously held within 24 months of being promoted.

Study Materials for the Fire Captain Examination - 2026

1. Building Construction for the Fire Service, 6th Edition, by Francis L. Brannigan (Chapters - 5,8,9,10,11,12,14)

2. Firefighter's Handbook of Wildland Firefighting; Strategy and Tactics, 4th Edition, by William C. T (Chapters: 8, 9, 10)

3. Truck Company Operations, 2nd Edition, by John Mittendorf (Chapters: 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, and 17)

4. Firefighting Operations in Highrise and Standpipe Equipped Buildings by David M McGrail (Chapters 4,5,15)

5. Reno Fire Department Strategies and Tactics Manual (Chapter 1 Single Family Residence Operations - 2026 EDITION)

6. General Orders:

• 102.08.05 Substance Abuse Policy


• 102.08.05A Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy and Procedures

7. RFD Policies and Procedures:

• 100.01 Uniforms


• 100.02 Appearance


• 101.01 General Rules of Conduct


• 101.08 Sick Leave Usage Management


• 101.09 Sexual Harassment


• 101.10 Employee Performance Management


• 101.11 Performance Appraisals


• 101.15 Workplace Violence


• 101.16 Critical Incident Stress Management


• 101.17 On Duty Injury, Illness or Exposure Reporting


• 102.02 Fire Investigator Call Out Policy


• 102.03 Youth Fire Setter


• 103.03 High-Visibility Vests


• 103.24 Vehicle Maneuvering in Limited View Situations


• 103.28 Operating Guidelines for the Train Trench


• 103.31 Request for Outside Agency Incidents


• 103.33 Emergency Vehicle Response


• 103.39 Surface Water Rescue


• 103.40 Swift Water Rescue


• 103.41 Ice Rescue


• 103.42 Elevator Rescue


• 103.46 Mobile Data Computer (MDC) Usage

8. RFD Standard Operating Guidelines:

• 200.01 SOG Structure Fire


• 200.02 SOG High Rise Fire


• 200.03 SOG Motor Vehicle Accident


• 201.02 SOG May-Day Operations


• 201.03 SOG Lost or Trapped Firefighter, Basic Self Survival


• 201.04 SOG Rapid Intervention Team (RIT)


• 201.06 SOG Residential Attic and Void Space Fires


• 201.07 SOG Attached Residential Garage Fires

9. Regional Standard Operating Guidelines

• Incident Command Regional SOG


• Operational Terminology Regional SOG


• Personnel Accountability Regional SOG

The City of Reno is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment, hiring, assignment, training, compensation, promotion, retention, and disciplinary decisions will be made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, political affiliation, membership in an employee association, or any other protected class status applicable under federal or state law or City Charter.