Hiring FDNY Certified Fire Guards for High Holiday Services in Manhattan

Our Manhattan synagogue needs FDNY certified fire guards — officially titled Place of Assembly Safety Personnel — for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. High Holiday attendance fills our sanctuary well above the 75-person indoor assembly threshold. New York City Fire Code requires qualified certificate holders on site so every worshiper can pray in a building that is code-compliant and prepared.

If you hold a current FDNY Certificate of Fitness F-03 and can work evenings and weekends in Manhattan during Tishrei 5787, we want to hear from you immediately.

Why This Manhattan Synagogue Needs Certified Fireguards for the High Holidays

Houses of worship are classified as Assembly Group A-3 occupancies. When 75 or more people gather indoors — and High Holiday services routinely draw hundreds — FDNY expects designated place-of-assembly safety personnel on duty. Certified fireguards are not optional extras. They are the people FDNY recognizes as responsible for fire safety while the sanctuary is occupied.

During the High Holidays our building will host:

• Erev Rosh Hashanah and two full days of Rosh Hashanah services
• Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur day, including Yizkor and Ne’ilah
• Family services, overflow rooms, and post-service kiddush gatherings
• Candle lighting, memorial lamps, and kitchen use that increase ordinary fire load

Certified fireguards give our clergy, ushers, and security team a dedicated fire-safety partner so congregants can focus on teshuvah, prayer, and community.

High Holiday Dates We Need Coverage (5787 / 2026)

Coverage is required from 45–60 minutes before doors open through 30 minutes after the last worshiper leaves.

• Erev Rosh Hashanah — Friday, September 11, 2026 — evening
• Rosh Hashanah Day 1 — Saturday, September 12, 2026 — morning–afternoon
• Rosh Hashanah Day 2 — Sunday, September 13, 2026 — morning–afternoon
• Kol Nidre / Erev Yom Kippur — Sunday, September 20, 2026 — evening
• Yom Kippur — Monday, September 21, 2026 — full day through Ne’ilah

Additional shifts may be available for Selichot, Shabbat Shuva, and opening days of Sukkot. Applicants who can cover the full High Holiday cycle will be given priority.

Required FDNY Credentials for Synagogue Fire Guards

Required

• FDNY Certificate of Fitness F-03 — Indoor Place of Assembly Safety Personnel
• Valid government photo ID
• Two professional references
• Walk-through of the premises with our facilities director before the first shift

Preferred

• F-01 Citywide Fire Guard for Impairment
• F-04 Outdoor Place of Assembly Safety Personnel
• S-95 Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems
• Current first-aid / CPR / AED card

Certificates must be unexpired. We will photocopy the card on the first shift.

Duties of Certified Fireguards During High Holiday Services

1. Arrive early, check in with the facilities or security lead, and walk all occupied floors, stairwells, and exits.
2. Confirm exit doors in the sanctuary and social hall swing freely and are never chained or blocked while the space is occupied.
3. Verify that portable fire extinguishers are in place, tagged, and unobstructed.
4. Monitor occupant load so we do not exceed the certificate of occupancy or Place of Assembly permit.
5. Keep aisles, cross-aisles, and the path to every required exit clear of tallit bags, strollers, and folding chairs.
6. Watch kitchen, candle, and memorial-light areas for unattended open flame.
7. Know the location of the fire-alarm panel, pull stations, and the outdoor assembly point.
8. In an alarm or visible fire, follow the building’s emergency plan, assist ushers with orderly evacuation, and meet arriving FDNY companies.
9. Remain on site at least 30 minutes after the last congregant leaves, then file a short written log.

Fire-guard duty is a dedicated assignment. You will not double as an usher, greeter, or security officer during the same hours.

Who Should Apply

• Experienced FDNY certified fireguards who have worked theaters, banquet halls, hotels, or other Manhattan places of assembly
• Jewish and non-Jewish certificate holders — respect for a house of worship is required; membership is not
• Candidates available for evening and weekend shifts in Manhattan during September 2026
• Applicants who can pass a basic background check and follow synagogue dress standards (kippah provided if desired; no shorts, no open-toe shoes)

Shifts are paid. Rate depends on credential, prior assembly experience, and whether you can cover the full High Holiday slate.

How to Apply for Fire Guard Shifts at Our Manhattan Synagogue

Email [jobs@YOURDOMAIN.org] with the subject line FDNY Fire Guard — High Holidays 5787 and include:

1. Full name, cell phone, and borough of residence
2. Clear photo of both sides of your F-03 Certificate of Fitness
3. Dates and service windows you can cover
4. Two references and a one-paragraph summary of recent place-of-assembly work

Questions? Call [212-XXX-XXXX] Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Walk-throughs of the sanctuary can be scheduled before Rosh Hashanah.

Apply this week. Certified fireguards who submit complete packets first will be scheduled first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do synagogues in Manhattan legally need certified fireguards on the High Holidays?
When indoor occupancy reaches 75 or more people, FDNY treats the space as a place of assembly. Houses of worship fall under Assembly Group A-3. Large High Holiday crowds put most Manhattan synagogues over that threshold. Confirm exact staffing with your Place of Assembly Certificate of Operation.

Is an F-03 the same as a “fire guard”?
Yes, in everyday language. FDNY titles the F-03 “Place of Assembly Safety Personnel.” The department notes these individuals were commonly called fire guards.

Can one person serve as both security guard and fireguard?
Not during the same hours. Assembly-safety duty requires the certificate holder’s undivided attention. Our synagogue staffs licensed security separately.

Do you hire fireguards who are not Jewish?
Yes. We hire on credential, reliability, and respect for the space.

What if our sprinkler or fire-alarm system is impaired?
If a required fire-protection system is out of service for more than four hours, FDNY requires an F-01 Citywide Fire Guard for Impairment in addition to assembly coverage.

Protecting Our Community This Tishrei

The High Holidays are when our Manhattan synagogue is fullest — and when fire safety must be most disciplined. Hiring FDNY certified fire guards is how we honor both the Fire Code and the people who walk through our doors. If you hold the card and can stand watch while we pray, please apply today.