For candidates that do NOT meet the lateral hiring eligibility, the District is also accepting applications for Entry Level Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/Paramedics

(not eligible for lateral hiring) 

through National Testing Network

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Please visit our Employment Tab

for more information on this 

entry level testing process

The Northern Lakes Fire District was established with the consolidation of two neighboring fire districts in 2000. We are not a department of any city or county government and are governed by a five-member Board of Fire Commissioners elected by the public to four-year terms.

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Today, the District serves five communities with more than 60,000 residents. We  are an all-hazards organization that provides structural and wildland fire protection, advanced life support emergency medical services, fire prevention, and public education services, to those we serve.

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In 2021, District crews responded to almost 6,400 emergency calls; more than a 17% increase from 2020. While we continue to seek resourceful and innovative means to provide the best level of service to our citizens and guests, additional staffing remains a crucial need. Please rest assured that our administration will continue working hard to identify options for funding the much needed additional firefighters.

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In the meantime, our dedicated firefighters will respond to emergencies in their highly proficient and professional manner, as always.

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Thank you to all the citizens for their continued support as we again move forward in our crucial mission to increase staffing for emergency response. I encourage anyone with questions, comments, or concerns to please contact me.

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I just ask that when you see your fire crews out in the community, please take a moment to thank them and let them know they are appreciated and valued. 

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Provides an all-hazards response and community risk reduction to the greater Hayden, Rathdrum, and Twin Lakes areas in Kootenai County. Northern Lakes Fire staffs two fire engines and two advanced life support (ALS) ambulances with career staff that respond to more than 6,300 emergency calls annually from two staffed stations located in the cities of Hayden and Rathdrum. These stations are staffed 24/7/365 with twelve Firefighter/EMTs. We are a career department, comprised of forty-one firefighters, three Chief Officers, a Fire Marshal and Deputy Fire Marshal, a Fleet Mechanic, and three administrative support staff. In addition, all of our firefighters are certified EMTs, including twenty paramedics.

Our staff respond to structure and wildland fires, emergency medical calls with paramedic staffed ambulances, motor vehicle crashes with heavy extrication capabilities, hazardous material response, technical rescue, weather events, ice rescues, and operate two fire & rescue boats.

Our District is comprised of approximately 108 square miles of lakes, mountains, prairies and growing cities with a population of more than 60,000 residents living in a Wildland Urban Interface identified by the Federal Registry as high risk for wildfire.

Please enjoy our website for your informational needs!

Burn permits are not required through the

Idaho Dept. of Lands (IDL) during

Open Fire Season from October 21 - May 9

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Special requirements from the Idaho Department

 of Lands (IDL) for large slash piles 

(larger than 10' high and 10' wide)

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Please read and follow the District's Burning Rules which must be on-hand when burning

(copy or photo)

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Air Quality Conditions

In September 2022, the Northern Lakes Fire District was awarded a $4.5 million SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant that will fund twelve additional firefighters for three years. This grant will allow the District to staff a third fire station in the Garwood area 24/7 sometime in 2023. Funding for the station is not included in the grant and the District will be financing the construction of the station.

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For more information on the new station, staffing, and how the grant will affect response times, please read the media release below.

2022 Board of Fire Commissioner Meetings Schedule

The District's next regularly scheduled

meeting will be held on 

Thursday, December 8 at 10:00 a.m.

at 125 W. Hayden Ave. in Hayden