Fire Captain: Lead Engine Crews and Fire Ops

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE); California; On-site; USD 66,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

CAL FIRE is seeking a Fire Captain to supervise engine companies and hand crews, manage fire station operations, and oversee special assignments across wildland and structural fires.

The role requires strict safety discipline, coordination of emergency responses, and participation in training programs, with opportunities to lead fuel reduction and prevention efforts at a statewide level.

Qualifications

• Must possess/obtain medical clearance prior to hire.
• Must obtain and maintain peace officer requirements.
• Possession of a valid driver's license is required.
• Respiratory Protection Program medical clearances are required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise engine companies and hand crews in wildland or structural fires.
• Plan, assign work, and train personnel; enforce safety and discipline.
• Operate fire apparatus, vehicles, and heavy equipment during emergencies.
• Develop and enforce fire prevention plans; conduct inspections and education.
• Prepare reports and maintain records of activities and incidents.

Skills

Fire suppression

Team supervision

Emergency response

Policy enforcement

Job description

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-531988

Position #(s):

542-000-1095-VAR

Working Title:

Fire Captain

Classification:

FIRE CAPTAIN

$5,934.00 - $7,694.00 A

$6,513.00 - $8,483.00 B

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

1

Work Location:

United States

Telework:

In Office

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Facility:

Statewide

Department Information

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 14,000 permanent and seasonal employees. The mission of the Department is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property and resources of California.

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!

Department Website: www.fire.ca.gov

Job Description And Duties

This is a new job advertisement for the Fire Captain 2026-2027 Process. If you have previously applied to the Fire Captain job advertisement, you will need to reapply to be considered.

Under direction, to supervise the work of an engine company(s) and hand crews, with other Fire Captains share in the management of a fire station including the maintenance of emergency apparatus and equipment, or to perform full-time duties in one of the following specialty assignments: (1) peace officer/fire prevention duties within a unit, (2) serve as a dispatcher, (3) serve as an assistant air attack program coordinator, (4) serve as a helitack captain, (5) supervise crews in conservation camps and fire centers and operate crew-carrying vehicles and fire apparatus, (6) serve as an instructor at the Fire Academy and other training assignments, or (7) supervise fuels reduction crews, and to do other related work.

Plans and assigns work, gives instructions, maintains discipline, and makes decisions relating to the supervision of engine companies and hand crews engaged in fighting wildland, structural, or other fires, flood control, hazardous materials incidents, emergency responses, vehicle extrication incidents, and other emergency activities, may occasionally perform minor maintenance on buildings and fire stations/camps, supervises projects related to resource management, fuels reduction projects using prescribed fire and equipment, trains a company to fight fire and operate tools, supervises and performs the construction and maintenance of fire defense improvements, inspects, supervises the use of, and performs preventive and minor maintenance on assigned equipment, transports a crew over mountainous roads, operates fire apparatus, power tools (e.g., chain saws), and heavy equipment during emergency incidents and nonemergency project work, assists in the preparation and maintenance of a fire prevention plan, applies and enforces fire prevention laws, conducts fire prevention education programs, installs and supervises exhibits and displays, issues citations and makes investigations and reports on the cause and origin of fires, collects and preserves evidence, makes inspections for enforcement of Titles 19 and 25 of the California Administrative Code, performs dispatching of resources, performs as fire information officer, supervises the air attack base crew, serves as controller in airport operations, leads a helitack crew, conducts classroom and field training including the preparation of lesson plans and the evaluation of student performance, evaluates work of assigned employees, reads and uses maps, may assist others in performing accounting, budgeting, personnel, and material management tasks, keeps records, writes and submits reports as required, and does other related work.

N ote: Fuels Reduction Crews positions exist within the units. Duties include: implementation of approved prescribed fire and fuels reductions project utilizing assigned personnel, maintain fuel reduction records, review and assessment of burn plan for implementation for units, administer orientation and training to assigned personnel.

2026-2027 Annual Hiring Process

Every two months, applications submitted before a designated cutoff date are processed and candidates are introduced to appointing authorities in rounds based on the date their application is submitted. Candidates only need to apply once per process to be considered in all subsequent rounds, and their single application will be considered for both permanent and limited-term positions.

Applications will be processed in rounds with the following cutoff dates:

• September 25, 2026
• December 1, 2026
• February 2, 2027
• April 6, 2027
• June 1, 2027
• August 3, 2027
  
  

Applications submitted after a cutoff date will be processed in the next group and considered in the following round.

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.
• For those positions which require peace officer status, you must obtain and maintain current peace officer requirements as a condition of employment.
• Possession of a valid driver's license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles is a condition of continued employment.
• Applicants must pass medical clearances under the Respiratory Protection Program.
• The Bargaining Unit 8 Memorandum of Understanding regarding Voluntary In-Class Reassignment Policy (Inter-Unit) (Section 9.2) will be followed. Reassignments may require a two-year commitment.
  
  

TAU applicants are encouraged to apply.

What is TAU? TAU appointments to this classification are made under temporary authorization. In accordance with the California State Constitution, no person may serve in one or more positions under a temporary appointment longer than 9 months in 12 consecutive months. Therefore, all time served in temporary appointments during the 12 consecutive month period will count towards this 9 month maximum. An employee gains no status or rights as a result of the TAU appointment and an employee who has had only a TAU appointment has no reinstatement eligibility. Persons who do not possess the minimum qualifications for the classification are ineligible for appointment as a TAU.

If you are offered and accept a TAU appointment, you will be required to take the next exam administered for this classification. If you do not apply to take the exam, score too low to be in a reachable rank, OR if you fail the test, your TAU appointment will be terminated within 48 hours of the exam results being released.

FELONY DISCLOSURE

Pursuant to California Penal Code 4571, any individual interested in seeking employment that requires working with inmates at a conservation camp must disclose of any prior felony status up front, so CALFIRE/CDCR can provide informed consent to a former felon to be on the conservation camp/prison grounds.

Any person/employee who has been convicted of a felony, and has not received written consent, is committing a felony.

FELONY DISQUALIFICATION

Existing law provides that persons convicted of a felony are disqualified from employment as peace officers. Such persons are not eligible to compete for, or be appointed to, positions in this class. This felony disqualification applies only to those positions designated as peace officers within this class.

PREA INFORMATION

Positions located at a Camp or requiring the supervision of inmates requires compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Compliance is determined by completing a Live Scan prior to appointment and during the course of employment to verify the standards of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 115 Prison Rape Elimination Act National Standards are met.

CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT

Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031 (a), in order to be a peace officer, a person must be either a U.S. Citizen or be a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for U.S. Citizenship. Any permanent resident alien who is employed as a peace officer shall be disqualified from holding that position if his/her application for citizenship is denied.

Application Instructions

Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: Until Filled

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Forestry & Fire Protection

CAL FIRE Northern Region Hiring

Attn: FC Hiring

135 Ridgway Avenue

Santa Rosa , CA 95401

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Forestry & Fire Protection

CAL FIRE Northern Region Hiring

FC Hiring

135 Ridgway Avenue

Santa Rosa , CA 95401

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Other - Authorization to Release Information Form (PO-299). This form may be found at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/-/media/D817B8E27D8049C3BC35297686467FB9
• Other - Current FC Work Location Form. This form may be found at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/-/media/57033D7C11CC4F429D91C311252DDC82
• Other - Copy of the front and back of your valid Driver's License of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
  
  

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.