LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville Fire Department is looking for its next Academy class.
Capt. Tamara Stewart joined WDRB Mornings on Thursday to talk about who is eligible to become a firefighter and what some of the benefits are.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or a GED, and a driver's license.
Applicants do not need any previous firefighting or emergency experience in order to apply.
The starting salary for a firefighter is $55,000.
Stewart warned that the academy is very physically demanding, but the benefits of becoming a firefighter make it all worth it.
"You have a family, a brotherhood and a sisterhood," she said. "We don't do anything by ourselves. Even in a fire, we're always with at least one other person."
Right now, the department is short 38 firefighters. Fully staffed, it employs more than 500.
The academy takes six months to complete, and the department is accepting 25 applicants this year. Applications are open until July 5.
If you'd like to apply to be a Louisville firefighter, click here.
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