Public Safety

Bureau of Fire

For Emergencies Dial 911

The Wilkes-Barre Fire Department is a full-service career department that provides fire, rescue, advanced life support emergency service, fire code enforcement and fire prevention activities. The department responds to over 9000 emergencies each year.

The mission of the Wilkes-Barre Fire Department states that it is the responsibility of each member to subscribe to values in two core groups:

The Community:

  • To recognize that the community is the reason for our purpose
  • To value the faith and trust of the community, and continually work to deserve that confidence through our attitude, conduct, and accomplishments
  • To recognize that lives are more valuable than property
  • To believe that the safety of the public is of paramount importance, followed closely by the safety of our members
  • To demonstrate that all members of the public are entitled to our best efforts

The Department:

  • To strive for excellence in every endeavor
  • To uphold honesty, fairness, and integrity
  • To seek effectiveness, efficiency, and economy continuously
  • To stress unity and teamwork as being to our mutual advantage as individuals and employees
  • To encourage the free exchange of ideas
  • To provide professional and courteous service at all times
  • To be sensitive to the changing needs of the community

The City of Wilkes-Barre has three Fire/Emergency Medical Service stations:

Headquarters, located at 20-22 East Ross Street
South Station, located at 313 High Street
Hollenback Station, located at 1020 North Washington Street

The Wilkes-Barre Fire Department has two full-time Fire Inspectors who investigate all fires in the City of Wilkes-Barre. The Inspectors also enforce the International Fire Code. If anyone has any information about either the cause of a fire or a fire code violation, please contact Assistant Chief William Sharksnas at 570.208.4260 or Captain Alan Klapat at 570.208.4260.

Employment

Pennsylvania is a civil service state and requires all full-time firefighters to be hired under a competitive testing procedure. All testing is advertised through various media outlets and mass mailings, and all hiring is conducted through the Fire Civil Commission, which was created specifically to administer, monitor, and advertise the exam. Please check the City of Wilkes-Barre's home page for announcements pertaining to the next Fire Department employment examination.