JC-529942 - FIRE APPARATUS ENGINEER- California
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
- Yreka, CA, USA
- Sep 09, 2026
Job Description
Fire Apparatus Engineer (1077)
California State Personnel Board Specification
| Schem Code | Class Code | Class Title | Probation Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| BZ60 | 1077 | Fire Apparatus Engineer | 12 Months |
Salary Information
Description
Under general supervision, operates fire apparatus and equipment during wildland and structural firefighting operations; leads an assigned crew in the performance of firefighting duties; maintains and makes minor repairs on vehicles, equipment, and the fire stations; performs fire prevention tasks, and other related work.
When performing in a paramedic position, as part of a paramedic team, performs paramedic duties in emergency medical situations.
Typical Tasks
Drives and operates fire apparatus in connection with extinguishing wildland, structural, and other fires, and in fire prevention and rescue work; leads a crew; performs maintenance and simple repairs on equipment; makes reports on the operation of equipment; uses maps; operates two-way radio as necessary; may act as fire captain relief; assists in training crews to fight fire efficiently and safely; checks, cleans, and polishes trucks; does general facility maintenance and repair work; assists in building roads, trails, telephone lines, and minor structures; as a learner, may operate other heavy equipment to assist when required; makes fire law inspections; investigates fire causes; prepares and presents fire prevention programs to the public; keeps records and prepares reports. Performs work outside with potential exposure to environmental elements (e.g., extreme weather, poison oak).
In addition to the tasks listed above, when working in a paramedic position, renders emergency medical assistance at the advanced life support level; performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation and electrical defibrillation; lifts and transports injured persons; administers intravenous fluids as needed; obtains blood for laboratory analysis; interprets cardiac arrhythmias; performs pulmonary ventilation by use of airway adjuncts; administers drugs; operates voice and biomedical telemetry communication systems and equipment; assists in childbirth; drives medical rescue vehicles under emergency conditions; prepares and completes documentation associated with patient care delivery; prepares and presents demonstrations and classes in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other subjects relating to medical assistance to employees and the public.
Eligible candidates selected for positions in this classification may be placed in an apprenticeship program.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a valid Class A, Class B, or Class C driver's license, with any applicable endorsements, issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, or applicable agency.
AND
Possession of a valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Card of Completion, issued by a currently licensed CPAT organization authorized by the Department. Incumbents who have worked as a Fire Fighter II or Fire Apparatus Engineer with CAL FIRE and have not had a break in service greater than 12 consecutive months do not need to obtain a new CPAT card. (Applicants who do not possess the CPAT Card of Completion will be admitted to the examination but must submit the card before they can be eligible for a job offer.)
AND
For paramedic positions, possession of a current California Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license or a National Registry EMT-P license is required. (Applicants currently enrolled in a paramedic training program must be within six months of completing their training by the date of the exam to be eligible to apply for a position.) Paramedic applicants must have a California EMT-P license prior to a job offer or reassignment.
AND
Experience
Either I
Eight months of full-time firefighting experience.
Or II
1280 hours of experience as a volunteer firefighter.
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Firefighting and emergency medical rescue methods and equipment, and operation of fire apparatus; repair and upkeep of fire apparatus; rescue and auxiliary equipment; California Vehicle Code as it applies to the operation of trucks and emergency vehicles on the highways.
Ability to: Read and write English at a level required for successful job performance; learn to drive a fire apparatus safely on mountain roads, narrow streets, highways, and freeways; learn to operate emergency/paramedic rescue and other equipment as required; learn and apply to specific situations, rules, regulations, and departmental procedures; lead a firefighting crew; follow written and oral instructions; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; demonstrate leadership ability; maintain cooperative relationships with other organizations and agencies, and individuals in a work situation; write legibly; live in a fire station compatibly with others; and exercise good judgment in emergency situations.
Ability to be willing to work in remote areas, on weekends and holidays, and to remain on duty 24 hours a day, as required.
Special Personal Characteristics
Demonstrate good judgment in emergency situations; demonstrate leadership ability, be of high ethical character; foster diversity, equity, and inclusion; possess visual acuity, color vision and hearing adequate to successfully perform the job; and maintain physical strength, dexterity, and agility necessary to perform the duties of the position. Demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of injured persons and their families; possess patience, tact, resilience, alertness, and keenness of observation.
Background Investigation
Positions located at a Camp or requiring the supervision of incarcerated individuals requires a criminal records background check prior to and during employment, i.e., Live Scan, to ensure compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
All employees shall have general qualifications as described by California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 172.
The Veteran Staffing Consultant for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is Chuck Callahan.
Qualifications
State
Immediate Fill
The men and women of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) are dedicated to the fire protection and stewardship of over 31 million acres of California's privately-owned wildlands. In addition, the Department provides varied emergency services in 36 of the State's 58 counties via contracts with local governments.
Preventing wildfires in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) is a vital part of CAL FIRE's mission. While these efforts have occurred since the early days of the Department, CAL FIRE has adapted to the evolving destructive wildfires and succeeded in significantly increasing its efforts in fire prevention. The Department's Fire Prevention Program consists of multiple activities including wildland pre-fire engineering, vegetation management, fire planning, education and law enforcement. Typical fire prevention projects include brush clearance, prescribed fire, defensible space inspections, emergency evacuation planning, fire prevention education, fire hazard severity mapping, and fire-related law enforcement activities.
Beyond its wildland firefighting role, CAL FIRE is an "all-risk" department. It may very well be a CAL FIRE engine and crew that is dispatched to the scene of an auto accident, or to a home where a child has become the victim of a drowning incident. The Department is always ready to respond - medical aids; hazardous material spills; swift water rescues; search and rescue missions; civil disturbances; train wrecks; floods, earthquakes and more.
Because of the Department's size and major incident management experience, it is often asked to assist or take the lead in disasters, including the Northern and Central California floods of 1997, 1998, and 2006; the 1991 Cantara train derailment and toxic spill; 1994 Northridge earthquake; 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake; the 1991 Tunnel Fire in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills; and the 2003 Southern California Fire Siege.
As part of the CAL FIRE team since 1995, the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) supports the CAL FIRE mission to protect life and property through fire prevention engineering programs, law and code enforcement and education. The OSFM provides for fire prevention by enforcing fire-related laws in state-owned or operated buildings, investigating arson fires in California, licensing those who inspect and service fire protection systems, approving fireworks as safe and sane for use in California, regulating the use of chemical flame retardants, evaluating building materials against fire safety standards, regulating hazardous liquid pipelines, and tracking incident statistics for local and state government emergency response agencies.
The OSFM, State Fire Training, and CAL FIRE Academy programs provide training education and certification programs for the California Fire Service. Through practical training exercises and classroom courses, every California firefighter is exposed to training standards that have been approved by CAL FIRE and OSFM, each among the best institutions in the nation for fire training education.
CAL FIRE's mission emphasizes the management and protection of California's natural resources; a goal that is accomplished through ongoing assessment and study of the State's natural resources and an extensive CAL FIRE Resource Management Program. CAL FIRE oversees enforcement of California's forest practice regulations, which guide timber harvesting on private lands. Reviews and inspections ensure protection of watershed and wildlife, as well as renewal of timber resources. Department foresters and fire personnel work closely to encourage and implement fuels management projects to reduce the threat of uncontrolled wildfires. CAL FIRE Foresters promote conservation and the importance of our trees and forests to Californians of all ages.
CAL FIRE manages eight Demonstration State Forests that provide for commercial timber production, public recreation, and research and demonstration of good forest management practices. Additional forestry programs include urban forestry, archaeology, pest management, etc.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is California's fire department and resource management agency. The organization is comprised of nearly 8,000 permanent and seasonal employees. The mission of the Department is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property and resources of California.
CAL FIRE is an equal opportunity employer, providing equal opportunity to all regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age or sexual orientation. CAL FIRE offers well-paying careers and opportunities for advancement.
When you join CAL FIRE, you join a family of employees that function as a team. You will build trust and friendship with your co-workers, as together you respond to emergencies and challenging situations. CAL FIRE provides employees with a variety of career choices and opportunities. We hope that you will consider a rewarding and challenging career with CAL FIRE!
http://calfire.ca.gov/about/about_careers_vacancies