Fire Control Worker - Intermittent

Ventura County; Oxnard, California (CA, MO); On-site; USD 31,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ventura County Fire Department seeks candidates to perform wildland fire prevention tasks, brush removal, and related labor across fire roads and fuel breaks. You will cut and remove brush with hand and power tools, assist in maintenance of equipment, and support fire suppression operations.

Open to applicants meeting entry requirements, with a written exam, BEEP test, and physical readiness expectations; detailed schedule is provided by the agency.

Qualifications

• Experience with hand and power tool operation.
• Ability to perform maintenance tasks.
• Willingness to work in hazardous conditions for extended periods.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships.
• Commitment to safety protocols.

Responsibilities

• Performs semi-skilled labor to support fire prevention and suppression of wildland and structural fires.
• Cuts and removes brush from roadsides, fire roads, and fuel breaks using hand and power tools.
• Maintains fire department equipment and performs minor vehicle service and repair.
• Participates in a departmental physical fitness program.
• Maintenance work on facilities including landscaping, carpentry, masonry, paving, plumbing, fabrication, demolition and paint prep.
• Operates vehicles and equipment as a Fire Equipment Operator's aide for bulldozers.
• Performs flood control activities such as trenching, sandbagging, and debris removal.
• Gives supervision to laborers as directed and may transport to sites.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Skills

Hand and power tool use

Maintenance tasks

Hazardous environment work

Physical stamina

Teamwork

Safety awareness

Tools

Fire equipment

Vehicles & machinery

Job description

Starting Salary $27.21/hour

THE DEPARTMENT

The County of Ventura Fire Department is committed to excellence, delivered with pride. Our response area includes more than 840,000 people in the unincorporated areas of Ventura County and seven of its cities: Ojai, Port Hueneme, Moorpark, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks. Comprised of approximately 658 dedicated personnel, the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) is an all-hazard, full-service agency. VCFD's services are built around our mission of anticipating and responding to the dynamic public safety needs of our diverse community. This includes prevention and education, response and communication. We proudly provide fire protection, medical aid, rescue, hazardous materials response, and a variety of other services to the public. Formed in 1928 as a special district, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors acts as the Fire Department's Board of Directors. The Ventura County Fire Department proudly provides fire protection, medical aid, rescue, hazardous materials response, and a variety of other services to the public. Their services are built around the mission of anticipating and responding to the dynamic public safety needs of our diverse community. This includes prevention and education, response and communication.

The County of Ventura Fire Department is committed to excellence, delivered with pride. Our response area includes more than 840,000 people in the unincorporated areas of Ventura County and seven of its cities: Ojai, Port Hueneme, Moorpark, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks. Comprised of approximately 658 dedicated personnel, the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) is an all-hazard, full-service agency. VCFD's services are built around our mission of anticipating and responding to the dynamic public safety needs of our diverse community. This includes prevention and education, response and communication. We proudly provide fire protection, medical aid, rescue, hazardous materials response, and a variety of other services to the public. Formed in 1928 as a special district, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors acts as the Fire Department's Board of Directors.

THE POSITION

Under immediate supervision, cut and remove brush from roadsides, fire roads, and fuel breaks using hand and power tools; perform routine maintenance and janitorial duties at Fire facilities; perform manual tasks involved in fire control; respond to fire alarms and other emergency calls to protect life and property; occasionally work in hazardous conditions and perform related work as required.

EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE/BILINGUAL INCENTIVE

Incumbents may be eligible for an educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5% or 5% based on completion of Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree that is not required for the classification. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Fire Protection District

Fire Control Workers are represented by the Ventura County Professional Firefighters Association (VCPFA) and are eligible for overtime compensation.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Opening Date: October 2, 2026

Closing Date: October 18, 2026 at 11:59pm

WRITTEN EXAM (Online): Week of October 19, 2026

BEEP TEST: Week of November 16, 2026

SELECTION INTERVIEW: Week of December 14, 2026

ACADEMY: May 17, 2027 - May 28, 2027

DUTIES

• Performs various types of semi-skilled labor in support of fire prevention and suppression of wildland fires and structure fires; cuts and removes brush from roadsides, fire roads, and fuel breaks using hand and power tools.
• Performs maintenance work on fire department equipment and minor vehicle service and repair.
• Participates in a departmental physical fitness program
• Performs maintenance work on fire department facilities such as landscaping, carpentry, masonry, paving, plumbing, fabrication, demolition, painting and paint preparation.
• Operates vehicles and specialized equipment and works as a Fire Equipment Operator's aide for fire department bulldozers.
• Performs flood control activities such as trenching, sandbagging, and debris removal.
• Gives functional supervision to laborers assigned to the Fire Department by the courts or other untrained individuals and may be transported to emergency work sites by various means, including fixed wing and rotary aircraft.
• Performs other related duties as required.

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE

Any combination of experience and/or training which would demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and abilities to operate hand and power tools safely; perform maintenance tasks; work under hazardous conditions for prolonged periods; perform extremely difficult physical tasks; establish effective working relationships; and, function as part of a team.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at time of application.
• The possession of a valid California Class C Driver's license is required at the time of appointment.
• The ability to obtain a Firefighter Endorsement in lieu a Class B within the first six (6) months of employment.
• Requires the ability to work for extended periods in hazardous environments while performing highly physical tasks, including heavy lifting (over 50 lbs.) and operating power tools. The role also demands working in challenging field conditions such as steep terrain, dirty environments, and extreme heat.

DESIRED

• One season or more of wildland fire suppression experience, either paid or volunteer with a fireagency.
• Construction, or vehicle or building maintenance work experience.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Duties are performed primarily in an outdoor environment and involve moderate and heavy activities for prolonged periods.

FINAL FILING DATE

Applications must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2026.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS

Sufficient information must be provided under the Education/Work experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire, to thoroughly and accurately demonstrate your qualifications to determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – QUALIFYING

All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant’s qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION – QUALIFYING

All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the recruitment process.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION – 100%

An unproctored, online internet-based job-related written examination will be conducted to test applicants’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to general maintenance and safety, reading comprehension, tools, math and interpersonal skills. Applicants must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION – PASS/FAIL

Those applicants who pass the written exam will be required to pass a BEEP test, prior to placement on the eligible list. Applicants can click for information on the BEEP test.

Candidates successfully completing the above examination processes may be placed on an eligible list for a period of six (6) months.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies. The eligible list may be used to fill seasonal vacancies for the 2026 fire season (July to December). There are currently twenty-five (25) Intermittent vacancies within the Fire Protection District.

NOTE: An Intermittent Employee is a person employed for intermittent/temporary work on a day-to-day basis. Intermittent employees are not regular County employees and are not eligible for County benefits. Additionally, Intermittent employees are limited to working a maximum of 1,664 hours per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

Stringent physical standards established through a medical examination must be met prior to hire.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation, which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information and driving record, is required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura 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.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Jeff Weaver at [phone] or by email at [e-mail].