How to Get a Job at CAL FIRE

Fire Fighter I (FFI) is a temporary, seasonal position. The class duties describe it as doing "heavy physical work involved in fire fighting as a member of a fire crew" under close supervision: cutting line with hand tools, clearing brush, maintaining equipment, and handling station housekeeping.

What makes FFI different from most state jobs:

• There's no exam. CAL FIRE's FFI postings say it "is a non-testing Classification, therefore, anyone meeting the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification may apply." Your application package is what gets screened.
• Training certificates carry a lot of weight. A recent FFI posting asked applicants to submit, along with the STD 678 and a required resume, any of a long list of certificates. These included the CAL FIRE Basic Firefighter certificate, the State Fire Training Fire Fighter I certificate, S-130/S-190, FEMA IS-100/200/700/800, Public Safety First Aid, and EMT. It also asked for an Authorization to Release Information form (PO-299) and a Work Location Form. Earn what you can before you apply.
• You choose locations. The Work Location Form tells CAL FIRE where you're willing to work. More locations, especially remote units, means more chances.
• It's seasonal. The posting figured annual compensation on a maximum of 9 months, paid as monthly base pay plus Extended Duty Week Compensation every four weeks. CalHR's current pay scale (updated October 2026) lists Fire Fighter I at $4,590–$5,803 a month.
• Returnees get preference. FFIs returning to the same unit within 12 months who worked at least 60 continuous days and completed Basic Fire Fighter training don't need to reapply and "will receive hiring preference over new applicants."

Timing. In the recent posting we reviewed, applications were processed in rounds with cut-off dates, and job offers could begin in early January, well before peak fire season. Check CalCareers and CAL FIRE's seasonal firefighter page in the fall for the current cycle's posting and prerequisites. Medical clearance, including respiratory protection clearance, is required before hire.

Permanent firefighting jobs require an exam. Both main bulletins are on CalCareers with continuous filing, and CAL FIRE says applications are accepted only through CalCareers (not mail, email, or in person).

Fire Fighter II (bulletin EX-4603). The Fire Fighter II and Fire Fighter II – Paramedic classes merged on July 31, 2025, so one exam covers both paramedic and non-paramedic jobs. Minimum qualifications include:

• A valid Class A, B, or C driver's license.
• A valid CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) Card of Completion from a licensed CPAT organization. You can take the exam without it, but you must submit it "before you can be eligible for a job offer."
• For paramedic positions, a California or National Registry EMT-P license.
• Minimum age of 18 at appointment.

CalHR's pay scale (updated October 2026) lists Fire Fighter II at $4,766–$6,181 a month for Range A (non-paramedic) and $5,102–$6,613 for Range B (paramedic), plus Extended Duty Week Compensation. The bulletin's own salary figures are older and lower, so go by the pay scale.

Fire Apparatus Engineer (bulletin EX-4473) drives and operates engines and leads a crew. Its paramedic and non-paramedic classes also merged on July 31, 2025. Its MQ includes the license and CPAT requirements plus eight months of full-time firefighting experience or 1,280 hours as a volunteer firefighter. That's why FFI seasons matter: they build the experience the next step requires.

Both bulletins say selected candidates may be placed in an apprenticeship program. Both also set an 11-month wait before you can retest.

CAL FIRE also manages state forests and runs fire prevention, resource management, aviation, and emergency command centers. That takes far more than firefighters. A CAL FIRE posting describes the department as "nearly 12,000 permanent and seasonal employees." Non-fire hiring includes:

• Fire prevention: Fire Prevention Specialist classifications.
• Emergency communications: dispatchers in command centers (working title Fire/EMS Dispatcher, in the Communications Operator classification).
• Resource management: foresters and environmental scientists for forestry, fuel reduction, and timber harvest review. Registered Professional Forester licensing applies at higher levels, so check the class spec.
• Fleet and equipment: heavy equipment mechanics and equipment operators.
• Administrative and IT: Office Technician, Analyst I and II, accounting, and IT staff in Sacramento and regional offices.

These follow the standard process: take the classification's exam on CalCareers, get list eligibility, then apply to CAL FIRE postings with an STD 678 and any required SOQ or resume. Some exams, like the firefighter exams above, are given by CAL FIRE itself rather than CalHR, so read each bulletin for how and where to apply.

CAL FIRE's Fire Fighter I posting describes the job plainly: willingness "to live and work in remote areas and on weekends and holidays and remain on duty 24 hours a day," plus the strength, agility, vision, and hearing to do the work. Applications and interviews that stand out tend to show:

• Completed training. For FFI, a full set of certificates is the clearest signal you're ready. List every course with its completion date.
• Relevant field experience. Volunteer firefighting, hand crews, fuel reduction, conservation corps, EMT work, or physically demanding outdoor jobs. Give hours and dates, since experience requirements are measured in months and hours.
• Teamwork and safety. Crews live and work together for long shifts. Examples of following safety procedures, looking out for crewmates, and taking direction under pressure are strong.
• Flexibility. Say clearly which units and locations you'll accept, and that you can handle long assignments away from home.

On your STD 678, give "from" and "to" dates (month/day/year), time base, and class titles for every job. Some CAL FIRE exam bulletins have warned that applications missing this information "may be rejected," so fill in every field. See how to fill out the STD 678.