Firefighter‑Paramedics

Whether you’re a fitness‑enthusiast woman or a man who would do anything for his neighborhood: your passion, commitment and calm under pressure are qualities we value at Brussels Fire Brigade. 

First of all: ambulance services account for 85% of our interventions! 

The other 15% involve more than putting out fires. Someone trapped in an elevator? A falling tree? A hazardous wasp nest? The fire brigade handles it all. 

It’s also a unique lifestyle: you work 24 hours straight, then rest 72 hours. This is year‑round, including weekends and holidays. You sleep, work, and eat together with colleagues… And unlike many places in Belgium, Brussels has only professional firefighters — no volunteers. 

 Through promotions and additional training in fire safety, you can advance or specialize in diving, rope rescue, animal rescue, handling hazardous (chemical) substances, or evacuating terror victims… 

There are plenty of development opportunities depending on your commitment.

Each of us is motivated by this core ambition and contributes, directly or indirectly, to making Brussels a safer region!

Of course! The only thing that matters is having the right qualities. More and more firefighters are women. 

And it shows: our fire stations are continuously being modernised and equipped with facilities for women (separate bedrooms, changing rooms, bathrooms, breastfeeding areas, etc.). Pregnant female firefighters can benefit from temporary adjustments to tasks and schedules. 

The work-life balance is also well thought-out: after every 24-hour shift, you get three days off. 

We offer a statutory position with a salary in line with pay scale D151 of the Brussels-Capital Region. 

Additional benefits: 

• Operational allowance (38%), year-end bonus and specialisation bonuses (variable);
• Eligibility for a bilingualism allowance;
• Meal vouchers and access to affordable meals at the staff canteen;
• Full reimbursement of STIB, SNCB, TEC and De Lijn public transport subscriptions;
• Bicycle allowance;
• Hospitalisation insurance (also for family members) and various social benefits;
• 35 days of annual leave, in addition to official public holidays;
• Continuous in-house training and various career development opportunities;
• Access to our fitness room and sports activities during working hours. 

Whatever your gender, background or diplomas... that’s not what matters most. Your commitment and attitude are what count! 

No specific qualifications are required. However, it is a demanding job, and you need the right mindset. 

We’re looking for people with qualities such as: 

• A positive attitude
   You’re here to help and protect. This is a people-oriented role where empathy and strong ethics are essential.
• Team spirit
   You never work alone, and your colleagues count on you. This requires discipline and good communication skills.
• Resilience under pressure
   You’ll often face difficult situations. You need to keep a cool head in the heat of the moment, stay brave and think on your feet.
• Physical fitness
   You exercise regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle. You ensure your fitness throughout your career. 

The only requirements: 

• Be at least 18 years old;
• Be a Belgian citizen or a national of the European Economic Area or Switzerland;
• Hold a category B driving licence;
• Have obtained the Federal Aptitude Certificate (FGA). 

Update: We are currently not actively recruiting firefighter-paramedics.

Convinced? There are several steps before you can start working at Brussels Fire Brigade. In short: 

1. Obtain the Federal Aptitude Certificate
2. Attend an information session
3. Pass cognitive tests
4. Complete physical assessments
5. Personality test and interview
6. Internship 

 Before applying to any fire service zone in Belgium, you must first obtain the Federal Aptitude Certificate (FGA). All the details and registration information can be found on the website: Opens in new windowbrandweer.be

We start with a presentation and provide details on all aspects of the job, the selection process and the tests. Attendance is mandatory. 

Our selection tests vary with each recruitment campaign. Below is an overview of the tests used in our most recent recruitment process. Test content may change for future campaigns. 

 You will complete two tests: 

• A computer-based test to assess your reasoning skills in various technical scenarios;
• A multiple-choice questionnaire on Brussels institutions, technical knowledge (construction, electricity…), topography of the Brussels-Capital Region, and mathematics (basic formulas, geometry, volume calculations…). 

 There are four physical fitness tests, spread over three different days: 

• Track running;
• Swimming test (in a pool);
• Agility course (in a hall);
• Stress-resistance in a confined space. 

You can find all the details about the physical tests in the PDF below. 

The agility course (test 3) is undoubtedly the most demanding. Want to see how it’s done? Choose your role model below: [Katrien or Nabil]. 

As a first responder, you work closely with people every day. It is essential that you have the right mindset. We assess this through a personality test and an interview to evaluate your qualities and motivation.

If you pass all the previous stages, you’ll be placed in a recruitment pool. Candidates are selected for internship based on their test results ranking. 

Successfully completing the internship means you can start working as a firefighter-paramedic in Brussels!