Under the program, precertified recruits who hold an active fire and emergency medical technician certification at the term of hire can receive an additional $2,500 for an active firefighter/EMT certification or $3,000 for an active firefighter/paramedic certification.
The goal, officials said, is to make the department more competitive and attractive to potential hires.
According to a June 28 press release, the program was first announced March 7 by Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña and backed by Mayor Sylvester Turner. HFD’s recruit classes 2022-Alpha and 2022-Charlie are the first to qualify for the incentive.
HFD is working to recruit qualified individuals to fill over 300 cadet roles per year, the release said. The funding for the incentives comes from the city's general fund.
