ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Firefighters are coming to the Silverleaf neighborhood in St. Johns County, one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida.
The county is adding a new fire station in a development to meet the needs of its expanding population.
News4JAX was on assignment when the fire department offered us an opportunity to take the physical test required for new applicants.
The test includes dragging weights, lifting weights, stepping up a box and climbing a latter three times consecutively.
That was only test is just to see if you can apply. Last week was the last round of applicants for a hiring class in January and March of 2026.
Chris Naff, public information officer for St. Johns County Fire and Rescue, explained, “Once they get hired, they do it the first week in gear, and then they do it the last week in gear, and they get to see their time differences and how they improve.”
The new fire station is a significant development for the Silverleaf community.
Naff explains how many are in the class and where they are going.
“We’re hiring for 48 people in January, so they’ll be split amongst two classes, so probably a class of probably about 28 to 30, and then about 18 after that, Naff said, “33 of these guys are our silver leaf team.”
The station will include a ladder truck, an engine, a tanker truck carrying water, a rescue unit, and a battalion chief. This expansion addresses the county’s rapid development and growth.
Having a fire station nearby also benefits residents by potentially lowering home insurance rates if they live within five miles of the station.
You can find information on what you should consider when it comes to your home insurance by clicking this link.