JC-536310 FIRE CAPTAIN (PARAMEDIC)
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
- San Jose, CA, USA
- Oct 22, 2026
Job Description
This posting states its location as Santa Clara County rather than a street address. The work is assigned within that county.
Classification: FIRE CAPTAIN
Please see the attached duty statement for details on this position.
For questions related to the duties of this position, please contact Deputy Chief of Operations Nick Giampaoli by phone at or by email at.
These positions are located in Morgan Hill, CA.Eligibility Information
In order to be appointed to a Fire Captain – Paramedic position, at least one of the eligibility criteria listed in the section titled "Who May Apply" must be met. However, lack of eligibility does not preclude interested parties from applying and competing for positions, and all applicants will be included in the selection process as long as all documents are submitted completely, correctly, and timely.
To establish list eligibility, candidates must take and pass the Fire Captain (FC) examination. Upon successfully completing and passing the examination, names are placed on a certification list establishing “list eligible” candidates. Obtaining list eligibility does not guarantee employment. In order to obtain employment, candidates must apply to job vacancies and compete through the State recruitment process.
The exam is currently available and can be found by following the link below:
Fire Captain Exam Bulletin
*Please note: Taking and passing the exam will allow applicants for both non-paramedic and paramedic positions to obtain eligibility, but candidates must still apply to the appropriate job advertisement that corresponds to the position of interest to be considered for hire.
This job control is for PARAMEDIC positions only, applications submitted to this advertisement will not be considered for non-paramedic FC position vacancies.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Working Conditions
The incumbent typically is required to perform psychologically stressful and/or physically demanding duties consistent with firefighting, disaster response, and emergency medical response, including working in isolated areas, walking or running on uneven, rough terrain, and remaining on duty 24 hours or longer without a break while performing these duties.
Maintains the arduous Fitness Standard in accordance with Department Policy.
May be subject to working nights, weekends or holidays.
Qualifications
Special Requirements:
- The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.
- The position(s) require(s) a(n) Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.
- The incumbent is required to wear respiratory protection equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
- The use of such equipment may place a physiological burden on the incumbent that varies with the type of equipment used, the job and workplace conditions in which the equipment is used, and the medical status of the incumbent
- As such, the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) requires that the incumbent be annually medically cleared to be fit-tested for respiratory protection equipment
- This clearance process consists of a comprehensive medical evaluation including a review of the incumbent's medical history, a complete physical examination, and vision, hearing, spirometry, and exercise treadmill test
- 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, is required
- For paramedic positions, possession of a current California Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license or a National Registry EMT-P license is required
- Paramedics must possess a valid California EMT-P license prior to receiving a job offer or reassignment
- Must be able to successfully obtain and maintain accreditation from State / Local Emergency Medical Services Authority (CA EMSA/LEMSA) for the assigned work location as a condition of employment
Work for Warriors is a no-cost employment program of the California Military Department for Service Members, Veterans, and military family members. The Veteran Staffing Consultant for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is Chuck Callahan.
Qualifications
State
Immediate Fill
Job Reference
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