FIRE CAPTAIN

City of Cathedral City; Cathedral City (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Cathedral City Fire Department seeks a Fire Captain to plan, coordinate, and supervise the emergency and non-emergency activities of a fire station during an assigned shift, protecting lives and property.

This first-level supervisor oversees fire suppression, EMS response, fire prevention, and related department functions, and typically serves as station administrator during the shift.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or GED supplemented by courses in Fire Science or a related field
• Five (5) years of paid municipal, county, tribal or special district fire experience in fire suppression and prevention.
• Must possess successful completion of California State Fire Training Apparatus Driver/Operator IA and IB.
• Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid California Class B driver license, or a California Class C driver license with firefighter endorsement; must maintain a satisfactory driving record.
• Certification as a Firefighter I and Firefighter II is required.
• Possession of a current/valid CPR certificate.
• Possession of a valid State of California Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic certification/licensure with eligibility to work under the Riverside County.
• Completion of Intermediate (ICS-300 and ics-400) training is required by the end of the probationary period
• Must possess a California State Fire Marshal Fire Officer I Certificate or have completed all required coursework, with final certification to be submitted by the end of the probation period.
• Must complete the assigned Task-book by the end of probation.
• Advanced management leadership training from a recognized industry is desirable.
• AA or BA degree with major coursework in fire science, or a closely related field is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Plans, coordinates, assigns, and supervises the emergency and non-emergency activities of a fire station during an assigned shift to protect life and property.
• This class is the first level supervisor, supervising and participating in fire suppression and emergency medical response, fire prevention and related departmental functions. Incumbents supervise station staff directly and typically serve as a station administrator.

Skills

Fire suppression

Emergency medical response

Leadership

Staff supervision

Safety regulations

Education

High school diploma or GED

AA or BA in fire science or related field desirable

Firefighter I certification

Firefighter II certification

CPR certification

California State Fire Training Apparatus Driver/Operator IA and IB

California Class B license with firefighter endorsement (or C with endorsement)

ICS-300 and ICS-400 training

Fire Officer I Certificate (or coursework with final certification)

EMS certification/licensure (EMT/Paramedic) with Riverside County eligibility

Task-book completion by end of probation

Advanced management leadership training desirable

AA or BA in fire science/desirable

Job description

Nationally Recognized, Locally Dedicated: Join Cathedral City's Accredited Fire Service

Cathedral City Fire and EMS stands among the elite fire service agencies with our newly earned CPSE accreditation. This distinction reflects our department's dedication to continuous improvement, data-driven decision making, and exceptional service delivery. Join our team and build your career with a department recognized for excellence!

APPLICATION PERIOD: CONTINUOUS

This recruitment is continuous and may close without prior notice. Human Resources reserves the right to modify the recruitment timeline, including extending the application period, accelerating the selection process, or adjusting any deadlines. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply immediately.

THE POSITION

Plans, coordinates, assigns, and supervises the emergency and non-emergency activities of a fire station during an assigned shift to protect life and property.

This class is the first level supervisor, supervising and participating in fire suppression and emergency medical response, fire prevention and related departmental functions. Incumbents supervise station staff directly and typically serve as a station administrator. This class is distinguished from Fire Battalion Chief which has overall supervisory authority for all activities related to assigned division(s).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Training and Experience

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training/Experience

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent supplemented by courses in Fire Science or a related field
• Five (5) years of paid municipal, county, tribal or special district fire experience in fire suppression and prevention.
• Must possess successful completion of California State Fire Training Apparatus Driver/Operator IA and IB.
• Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid California Class B driver license, or a California Class C driver license with firefighter endorsement; must maintain a satisfactory driving record.
• Certification as a Firefighter I and Firefighter II is required.
• Possession of a current/valid CPR certificate.
• Possession of a valid State of California Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic certification/licensure with eligibility to work under the Riverside County.
• Completion of Intermediate (ICS-300 and ics-400) training is required by the end of the probationary period
• Must possess a California State Fire Marshal Fire Officer I Certificate or have completed all required coursework, with final certification to be submitted by the end of the probation period.
• Must complete the assigned Task-book by the end of probation.
• Advanced management leadership training from a recognized industry is desirable.
• AA or BA degree with major coursework in fire science, or a closely related field is desirable.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Must possess strength and stamina sufficient to lift and carry equipment and patients exceeding 150 pounds and be able to wear self-contained breathing apparatus

Other Special Requirements

Must live within 150 miles of the city limits by the end of their probationary period. The calculation of the 150 miles shall be made using Google Maps driving directions.

LET'S GET STARTED! - THE SELECTION PROCESS

To be considered for this opportunity, candidates must attach all required certifications listed in the Education, Training and Experience section. Based upon the information presented on the applications, a limited number of candidates who possess qualifications most pertinent to the position will be invited to participate in the selection process.

Tentative Testing Dates:

• Application period - Open until sufficient qualified applications are received. First round of screening scheduled for September 23, 2026
• Written Exam - Monday, October 19, 2026
• Practical Exam & Panel Interview - Tuesday, October 20, 2026
• Fire Chief Interview - TBD

WRITTEN EXAMINATION:

Candidates passing the written examination will be invited to participate in a practical exam and oral interview. The written exam is pass/fail.

The Fire Captain written exam is divided into the following content areas:

• Section 1: FIREGROUND OPERATIONS 30
• Section 2: FIRE INSPECTION 20
• Section 3: INCIDENT COMMAND 20
• Section 4: SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT 20
• Section 5: WRITTEN COMMUNICATION AND REPORTS 10

The sources for this test include:

• Miller, Leslie A. and Fortney, Jeff (Ed.). (2019). Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer, 6th Edition. IFSTA.
• Murnane, Lynne (Ed.). (2016). Fire Inspection and Code Enforcement, 8th Edition. IFSTA.
• Hess, Karen M., Wrobleski, Henry M., and Lahera, Laz. (2019). For the Record: Report Writing for Fire Services, 3rd Edition. Innovative Systems.
• National Incident Management System Consortium. (2007). Book 1 - First Edition Incident Command System (ICS) Model Procedures Guide for Incidents Involving Structural Fire Fighting, High-Rise, Multi-Casualty, Highway, and Managing Large-Scale Incidents Using NIMS-ICS, 1st Edition. Fire Protection Publications.

*This source is available through the IFSTA website, only in eBook format.

PRACTICAL & INTERVIEW EXAMINATION:

The practical exam consists of simulator exercises and panel interview.

ORAL INTERVIEW:

Placement on the eligibility list will be established based on the average score obtained from all sections of the practical and interview examination. The eligibility list will remain in effect for a period of (six) 6 months from the date of establishment.

All notifications will be sent by email only (regardless of the notification preference selected during the on-line application process). Notifications will be sent to the email address listed on the application.