Firefighter Paramedic (Lateral and Entry Level)

La Mesa; La Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 101,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

Heartland Fire & Rescue invites qualified Lateral Paramedic Firefighter applicants to apply for a position shared across the Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove. Lateral candidates must have at least one year of full-time experience as a Paramedic Firefighter.

A CPAT certificate valid between 04/25/2026 and 10/25/2026 is required. Applicants will participate in a joint application and examination process with eligibility lists established by each agency.

Qualifications

• Active, full-time Paramedic Firefighter with at least 1 year of experience.
• CPAT certificate dated 04/25/2026–10/25/2026 required.

Skills

Paramedic Firefighter

CPAT Certification

Job description

Position Summary

Annual Salary Range

• City of El Cajon: $97,260.80 - $118,227.20
• City of La Mesa: $101,308.48 - $135,757.44
• City of Lemon Grove: $83,947.76 - $123,992.44

Lateral entry salary will be based on prior years of paid Firefighter Paramedic work experience.

All three cities participate in the CalPERS retirement system and offer comprehensive benefits.

Out-of-state applicants are encouraged to apply! The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove welcome qualified candidates from across the country and provide a clear, well-organized onboarding process to support a smooth transition into the region. This area offers an exceptional quality of life, a strong and supportive fire service community, and the opportunity to gain broad operational experience within a cooperative agency structure. Applicants must provide documentation demonstrating equivalency for all required certifications, qualifications, and physical ability standards as outlined in the posting.

The Recruitment Process

The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove will conduct a joint application and examination process. Each agency will establish its own eligibility list, and candidates may be placed on multiple lists.

Examination Components

• CPAT Requirement. All candidates MUST possess a Cal-JAC Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certificate dated between: 04/25/2026 - 10/25/2026. More information is available at: https://www.fctconline.org/cpat/
• Appraisal Interview & Paramedic Skills Assessment Scenario: Scheduled for 11/4/2026 or 11/5/2026

About HEARTLAND FIRE & RESCUE

The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove operate under a cooperative cost-sharing agreement known as HEARTLAND FIRE & RESCUE (HFR), serving a regional population of nearly 200,000. HFR responds to approximately 34,000 calls annually across eight stations and provides advanced life support services in conjunction with a contracted ambulance provider. The Cities maintain deployable OES engines and participate in the regional US&R task force. More information is available at www.heartlandfire.org.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum qualifications vary amongst the three agencies.

Lateral Candidates

• Experience: One year of full time experience as a regular Paramedic Firefighter (non-probationary). Active, seasonal time will count towards experience. Reserve time is not qualifying.

Examination Process

The 2026-2027 County of San Diego EMS protocols will be used during the Appraisal Interview and Paramedic Skills Assessment. For reference, candidates may access the County of San Diego EMS protocols at Emergency Medical Services Treatment Protocols/Policies.

Candidates must successfully complete all components of the examination process to be placed on an eligibility list for employment consideration by any of the three agencies.

Candidates who advance to the pre-employment stage may be required to undergo a comprehensive background investigation, which can include a polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, and pre-employment medical assessment.

City of El Cajon - [phone]

City of La Mesa - [phone]

City of Lemon Grove - [phone]