Chattanooga Fire’s New Hiring Age is 18

The Chattanooga Fire Department’s minimum hiring age is now 18, allowing us to recruit a new demographic group. We would like to thank the support of our city leaders after the Chattanooga City Council held a final vote to approve the change today. It will positively impact our overall potential candidate pool, giving us access to a greater number of individuals seeking rewarding careers in the fire service.& “This change represents a critical step forward in expanding opportunities for young people in Chattanooga who are eager to serve their community,” said Mayor Tim Kelly. “By lowering the Chattanooga Fire Department’s minimum hiring age to 18, we are helping CFD recruit talented public servants while opening doors for motivated high school graduates to begin meaningful and rewarding careers. I’m grateful to our city leaders for supporting this initiative, which will strengthen our fire department and allow us to keep pace with departments nationwide. Together, we’re investing in the future of our fire service and the safety of our city.” Previously, our minimum hiring age was 21 and individuals had to wait three years after graduating high school to seek employment with our fire department. They either go to college, find other...