Municipal fire department · Virginia · United States

Chesapeake Fire Department

About CFD

The Chesapeake Fire Department (CFD) protects the City of Chesapeake — approximately 250,000 residents across roughly 350 square miles in southeastern Virginia, one of the cities of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. The unusual geographic mix is operationally distinctive: dense suburban neighbourhoods, the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, agricultural land, and substantial river and canal frontage including a working stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway. CFD fields about 470 uniformed members from around 16 fire stations and operates an all-hazards model: structural fire suppression, advanced life support emergency medical service (CFD operates ALS rescue units providing primary 911 ambulance transport), technical rescue, hazardous materials response, marine firefighting and water rescue on the city's rivers, canals, and the Elizabeth River system, wildland firefighting at the swamp's edge, and arson investigation. Hurricane response and Atlantic-storm operations are routine. Firefighter recruitment is administered by the City of Chesapeake Human Resources Department. The process typically includes an online application, written examination, the Candidate Physical Ability Test, oral interview, medical and psychological evaluation, polygraph and background investigation. Virginia EMT certification is required. Bluewatch refers candidates to the official portal.

Service at a glance

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Last updated 20 May 2026