Dearborn will hire eligible firefighter candidates while they complete required certifications under a recruitment program announced Oct. 28.
The agreement between Fire Chief Joseph Murray and the Dearborn Firefighters Association Local 412 allows two groups to apply before becoming fully certified firefighter-paramedics, according to the city’s announcement.
Applicants must either hold Michigan Firefighter II certification and an EMT-Basic license but still need paramedic licensure, or hold a paramedic license but still need firefighter certifications.
Candidates will be employed while completing their remaining education and training. Those who successfully finish the program will automatically transition into the department’s Firefighter 1 positions.
The agreement also increases starting pay for fully certified applicants and offers firefighters coming from other departments an opportunity to purchase prior service time. The announcement does not specify starting salaries.
“This agreement eliminates potential barriers to acquiring certifications for those interested in fire service, while also incentivizing those who are fully certified to seek out employment with the DFD,” Murray said.
Union President Jeffrey Lentz said the agreement creates another route into the department.
“We are hopeful this will help attract home grown candidates from our community and the communities that surround us,” Lentz said.
Staffing expansion
Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and the City Council approved increasing authorized staffing from 146 to 158 sworn firefighters, according to the announcement. The city describes that as the highest staffing level in the department’s 119-year history.
Separately, the city’s FY2026 annual report lists 154 full-time and nine part-time fire department employees. Those figures describe total employees rather than the newly approved sworn-firefighter staffing level.
The report says the department responded to 17,323 emergency incidents across Dearborn and Melvindale during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.
The city directs prospective applicants to Dearborn.gov/Jobs.
