Firefighter

Firefighter

Salary

$84,422.00 - $115,154.00 Annually

Location

City of San Luis Obispo, CA

Job Type

Regular Full Time

Department

Emergency Response

Opening Date

09/01/2026

Closing Date

9/25/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

JOB DESCRIPTION

The City of San Luis Obispo has multiple openings for Firefighters.

CLICK HERE to view the full recruitment flyer and learn more about this amazing opportunity!

ENTRY-LEVEL APPLICANTS must be active on the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center (FCTC) Statewide Eligibility List (SEL) with a score of 80 or higher by the application closing date, Friday, September 25, 2026.

LATERAL APPLICANTS do not need to be on the FCTC list but must be an active firefighter with a minimum of 1 year of full-time, professional firefighting experience. Please note that if you are a lateral applicant, you are not required to possess and upload a current CPAT/BPAT certificate; however, if offered the position, you will be required to have a CPAT/BPAT certificate before February 1, 2027.

Please attach ALL certifications required for this position.

ATTACHMENTS NEEDED FOR APPLICATION

ATTACHMENT NOTE: Name the documents/files with the name of the certification followed by last, first name (e.g., Paramedic License - Smith, John).

Entry-Level Applicants

Lateral Applicants

Required: CA State Firefighter I Academy Certificate/Equivalent or Attestation

Required: CA State Firefighter I Academy Certificate/Equivalent

Required: Current CPAT/BPAT dated on or after 9/1/2025

Required: EMT Certification or Paramedic License

Required: EMT Certification or Paramedic License

Optional: Current CPAT/BPAT dated on or after 9/1/2025.

Will be required if offered the position

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT TIMELINE:

• Friday, September 25, 2026 at 5:00 pm: Application Period Closes

• September 28 - October 9, 2026: Application Screening Window

• Week of October 12 - 16, 2026: Application Status Updates - All candidates will receive a status notification at the email address used to apply. Please monitor your inbox closely.

• Week of October 27 - 30, 2026: In-Person Oral Board Interviews (Held at a City of San Luis Obispo facility; details sent directly to top candidates).

FIREFIGHTER CANDIDATE TESTING CENTER (FCTC) DETAILS

• Statewide Eligibility List (SEL): Learn how to get placed on the SEL at https://www.fctconline.org/sel /

• Testing Schedules: View upcoming Cal-JAC CPAT and FCTC Written Test dates at https://www.fctconline.org/testingschedules/

• Financial Assistance: Candidates experiencing financial hardship may apply for test fee assistance at https://www.fctconline.org/financialaid/

• IMPORTANT: It is your sole responsibility to ensure your contact information in your FCTC profile matches what you are putting on this application to be accurately matched to the SEL. (FCTC ID#, Name, Email Address, Phone Number, etc.).

JOB SUMMARY:

Under general supervision of a Fire Engineer or Fire Captain, the Firefighter serves citizens, visitors, business owners, and other City employees, while demonstrating competence and compassion in the areas of firefighting, rescue, emergency medical aid, and fire prevention activities in protecting life and property. Provides public education; as assigned, assists with training activities, mobile crisis unit and program management; operates and maintains fire apparatus and pumps and other firefighting equipment on a relief basis.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:

This class requires the application of highly specialized knowledge and skill in one or more areas in an emergency response environment. This class is distinguished from Fire Engineer in that the Fire Engineer carries the primary responsibility of operating and maintaining fire pumping engines and other firefighting equipment.

SUPERVISION

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Works under the general supervision of Fire Captain or Fire Engineer. May provide work direction and/or instruction to less experienced Firefighters or interns.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all tasks that may be found in positions of this class.)

• Provide exemplary customer service to all individuals by demonstrating a willingness to be attentive, understanding, responsive, fair, courteous, and respectful, and to actively participate in maintaining a positive customer service environment.

• Works well as a member of a team, including during urgent and emergency situations.

• Responds skillfully and compassionately to emergency and non-emergency fires, medical aids, rescues, hazardous materials spills and releases, disasters, and public assists.

• Demonstrates excellent listening and communication skills and knowledge of current fire service issues.

• Responds to fire alarms with fire company while on duty and individually when off duty.

• Responds to all natural disasters threatening the City.

• Renders skilled, compassionate first aid, Basic Life Support, and assists with Advanced Life Support and or mental health clinician.

• Firefighters licensed as a Paramedic provide Advanced Life Support.

• Performs the following duties under adverse conditions including Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) atmospheres, extreme weather conditions, in confined or elevated positions, and other high-risk environments, and during all hours of the day and for extended periods without rest:

• Raises, extends, climbs, and lowers ladders.

• Carries and uses heavy equipment.

• Makes forcible entry into buildings.

• Ventilation procedures to drive out smoke and gas.

• Connects and lays hose lines.

• Enters IDLH atmospheres to suppress fire and/or rescue victims.

• Stabilizes compromised structures.

• Operates nozzles and applies water streams in fire situations.

• Assists in salvage and cleanup operations.

• Assists in operations to ensure that fire is completely extinguished.

• Operates all required functions while wearing personal protective equipment, including a self-contained breathing apparatus.

• Operates/maintains fire extinguishers.

• Creates and maintains accurate documentation including such documents as patient care reports, fire reports, fire prevention reports, training records, and other program reports as assigned

• Assists in fire investigation.

• Keeps abreast of latest fire safety developments.

• Participates in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) continuing education training and maintains Emergency Medical Technician certification or Paramedic license and Accreditation, as assigned.

• Inspects business establishments, residences, public buildings, and other buildings in enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to fire and hazard prevention

• Maintains skills through continued education and training.

• Performs duties of Fire Engineer on a relief basis.

• Assists in the repair, maintenance, inspection and testing of vehicles and equipment assigned to the Fire Department.

• Assists in the maintenance of clean and orderly conditions in and about fire stations.

• Gives station tours and public education presentations for adults and childrens groups.

• May be required to work a forty-hour work week.

• Studies and adheres to Fire Department rules, policies, and procedures.

• Participates in a variety of public education programs.

• Engages in fitness activities and maintains fitness as a means of safely and effectively performing all essential duties while minimizing risk of injury.

• Communicate with Fire Captain/Company Officer, and other fire crew members to keep them informed of changes in equipment status during non-emergencies, and changes during emergency situations; communicate with oncoming shift members of changes in equipment status; and complete written forms to keep track of personal records (e.g., timecards, shift-trades, personal exposure records, etc.).

• Critique emergencies and participate in pre-fire planning, critiquing, and discussing actions taken at emergency calls; making on-site visits to become familiar with specific hazards within district; and participating in discussions of how to improve actions at emergency calls.

• May be assigned to work with the Mobile Crisis Unit (MCU) Mental Health Clinician to proactively respond, report and provide care to persons in crisis, perform general outreach welfare checks and transport persons safely to non-emergency room facilities such as specialized treatment clinics, mental health, and drug/alcohol rehab services.

• Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Effective interpersonal communication skills within a work team and with the general public.
• Principles of out-of-hospital Basic and/or Advanced Life Support procedures.

Ability to:

• Continue personal and professional development, including learn advanced firefighting, rescue, and medical methods and equipment, and to apply such knowledge to specific situations and to local requirements.
• Learn to drive fire equipment carefully and safely in accordance with traffic laws and ordinances and learn the City's Street and water systems.
• Learn fire prevention and inspection principles.
• Learn, understand, and adhere to Fire Department and City policies, procedures, including the current Memorandum of Agreement between the City and the International Association of Firefighters Local 3523.
• Understand the principles of hydraulics.
• Perform required maintenance of firefighting equipment.
• Think and act quickly and correctly in emergencies.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Carry out work assignments involving danger to life and health.
• Climb ladders and work at heights.
• Work in confined spaces using respiratory protection.
• Have sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform strenuous work under adverse and dangerous conditions.
• Perform routine station house maintenance work.
• Learn a variety of firefighting duties within the probationary period, including passing a driving and pumping exam.
• Speak effectively in public to diverse individuals and groups.
• Meet requirements as established by the Federal government and the State of California.
• Work with others on a team, contributing to an overall effort; work closely with other people; establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and the public.
• Apply mechanical principles (e.g., how pulleys, gears, levers, engines, motors, etc., work).
• Visualize spatial arrangements and 3-dimensional characteristics of structure (e.g., visualize entry and exits to structures in smoke-filled rooms).
• Requires a willingness to work in unpleasant, hazardous, and stressful conditions; perform undesirable, routine, or monotonous duties; work irregular hours; wear protective clothing and equipment; work effectively in confined areas; tolerate offensive sights and smells.
• Read and interpret basic maps in order to apply this information during emergency activities (e.g., finding most direct route).
• Read and understand simply technical or mechanical diagrams, blueprints of structures, building plans, floor plans, etc. in order to apply this information during emergency and non-emergency activities (e.g., pre-fire planning, location of victims in structures, etc.)
• Read and understand reference materials such as Building Codes as needed for pre-fire planning, inspections, etc.
• Perform basic mathematical calculations to compute pump requirements, hose, and hydrant requirements, etc. (e.g., volume, flow, capacity, etc.) and to compute the size of a building or room or determine the distance from one location to another (e.g., area, square footage, distance, size).
• Inductively solve basic problems (i.e., to induce means to infer general principles from specific or particular points, such as knowledge of fire behavior applied to a specific fire).
• Deductively solve basic problems (i.e., deduce means to infer specific or particular points from a general principle, such as observation of water hammer to actions being taken at the hydrant or pump).
• Estimate size, quantity, distance, and slope (e.g., estimate size and spread of a fire).
• React in an emotionally appropriate manner during routine and emergency situations.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent.

License or Certification:

• Minimum of a valid California Class C drivers license and a satisfactory driving record
• California State Firefighter 1 Academy Certificate or equivalent accredited academy having established reciprocity (i.e., Pro-Board or IFSAC).
• And at least one of the following:
• Nationally Registered or California State Emergency Medical Technician
• Nationally Registered Paramedic License and must become San Luis Obispo County Accredited within 3 months of academy completion.
• California State Paramedic License and must become San Luis Obispo County Accredited within 3 months of academy completion.

FCTC: Active on the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center (FCTC) list with a score of 80 or greater.

Physical: Current Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT) or Biddle Physical Agility Test (BPAT) certificate; must comply with the department fitness standards, non-smoking and drug testing policies.

Desirable: An associate degree in Fire Science and/or bachelor's degree. Nationally Registered Paramedic License or California State Paramedic License, and the possession of or ability to obtain San Luis Obispo County Paramedic Accreditation (resulting in a 12% pay incentive).

For Lateral Firefighter, in addition to the above: Active Firefighter with a minimum of one year of full-time, professional firefighting experience having successfully completed probation. Applicants are not required to be active on the FCTC list.

THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS:

• Pre-employment physical
• Pre-employment drug testing
• Background check

Equal Opportunity & Language Access Notice

The City of San Luis Obispo values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are committed to fostering a community where all individuals are treated with dignity, respect, and inclusion, and where everyone can thrive. Our job posting site is compatible with tools such as Google Translate, which applicants may use to view postings in their preferred language. Please note that all application materials and responses must be submitted in English, as English is the working language of the City.

La Ciudad de San Luis Obispo valora la diversidad, la equidad, la inclusión y el sentido de pertenencia. Estamos comprometidos a fomentar una comunidad donde todas las personas sean tratadas con dignidad, respeto e inclusión, y donde todos puedan prosperar. Nuestro sitio de publicación de empleos es compatible con herramientas como Google Translate, que los solicitantes pueden usar para ver las publicaciones en su idioma preferido. Tenga en cuenta que todos los materiales de la solicitud y las respuestas deben enviarse en inglés, ya que el inglés es el idioma de trabajo de la Ciudad.

For questions or assistance, please contact recruitment@slocity.org. Si tiene preguntas o necesita asistencia, por favor comuníquese con recruitment@slocity.org.

For a detailed spreadsheet of employee benefits by bargaining group, please view our Benefits Summary.

Retirement: California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). The City participates only in the medicare portion of Social Security.

Health: the City has a cafeteria plan for health, dental and vision insurance and contributes towards medical insurance. Employees may choose from several health insurance options. There are also two dental plans to choose from. See the Benefits Summary link to determine the contribution amount.

Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance: group term life and AD&D insurance is provided for all regular employees. The amount of coverage varies depending on the classification. Employees may purchase additional life and AD&D insurance for themselves and their dependents.

Vacation: employees receive 12 days per year increasing to 20 days after 20 years.

Holidays: employees receive 12-13 days per year depending on the classification.

Sick Leave: employees receive 12 days per year.

Administrative Leave: is a benefit available to management employees. The number of administrative leave hours varies depending on the classification.

Flexible Work Schedule: is available to many positions within the City organization.

Long Term Disability Insurance: is available for regular employees. The amount of benefit and contribution by employee varies by classification.

Deferred Compensation: is available for employees to set aside a portion of their salary on a pre-tax basis to supplement retirement.

Wellness Program: offered to help employees gain knowledge, skills and motivation to improve the quality of their lives and well-being.

Employee Assistance Program: a counseling and consultation service designed to help employees and eligible family members with a wide range of personal issues.

Flexible Benefits Program: available to help employees save taxes on: (1) Pre-tax health insurance premium deductions, (2) Unreimbursed/ uncovered medical expenses, and (3) Dependent care expenses.

Tuition Reimbursement: up to $1500 annually for job-related educational costs is available to employees who have passed probation.

Trip Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP): incentives are available for employees who voluntarily participate in alternative forms of transportation to and from work.

Computer Purchase Program: interest-free loans to employees who have passed probation and who purchase computers for personal use with City approved software configuration.

Professional Association for City Employees (PACE): voluntary organization for professional development training classes, monthly membership meetings with a variety of speakers, and social functions designed to facilitate interaction with employees from all departments in a relaxed setting away from work.

01

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education?

• Masters degree or higher
• Bachelors degree
• Associates degree or vocational equivalent
• Some college
• High School/G.E.D.
• None of the above

02

APPLICATION TYPE: Are you applying as an entry-level or lateral applicant? This recruitment is open for lateral and entry-level applicants. Please note that to qualify as a lateral applicant, you must be an active firefighter with a minimum of 1 year of full-time, professional firefighting experience.

• Entry-Level
• Lateral

03

ENTRY-LEVEL Applicants: Please provide your FCTC ID# so your status on the FCTC Statewide Eligibility List can be confirmed. LATERAL Applicants: Please provide the name of your current agency and state how many years of full-time, professional firefighting experience you have.

04

FIREFIGHTER I ACADEMY STATUS: Do you possess a California State Firefighter I Academy Certificate or an equivalent accredited academy having established reciprocity (i.e., Pro-Board or IFSAC)? Please state what your certification status is and ensure you have attached a copy of your certificate to your application. IN PROGRESS (Graduating on or before 12/31/2026): List your Academy Name, Expected Graduation Date, and confirm your official program attestation letter is attached. NEITHER: Type "N/A".

05

CANDIDATE PHYSICAL ABILITIES TEST (CPAT) OR BIDDLE PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST (BPAT) STATUS: Do you possess a current CPAT or BPAT certificate issued on or after September 1, 2025? ENTRY-LEVEL: Type "YES" or "NO". If YES, state the issue date and ensure your certificate is attached. LATERAL: Type "YES" (and attach certificate) OR type "CONFIRMED" to acknowledge that you will obtain a valid CPAT/BPAT certificate prior to February 1, 2027, if offered the position.

06

EMT / PARAMEDIC STATUS: Please select which certification or license you currently hold. You are required to attach a copy of your certification or license to your application

• Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification.
• California State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification.
• Nationally Registered Paramedic License.
• California State Paramedic License.
• N/A - I do not currently hold any of the above certifications or licenses.

07

If you hold a Paramedic License, please indicate your accreditation status in San Luis Obispo County. If you do not have a Paramedic License, select N/A.

• Yes - I hold a California State Paramedic License and I am currently San Luis Obispo County-Accredited.
• No - I hold a Paramedic License but I am not currently accredited; however, I have the ability to obtain San Luis Obispo County Paramedic Accreditation within 3 months of academy completion.
• N/A - I do not hold a Paramedic License.

08

Will you comply with the City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department fitness standards, non-smoking, and drug testing policies?

• Yes
• No

09

Do you have a valid Class "C" California drivers license and a satisfactory driving record? If you do not currently possess a valid Class "C" California drivers license, do you have the ability to obtain one within six months of hire? Please select the answer that best applies.

• Currently possess a valid Class "C" California drivers license and a satisfactory driving record
• Do not currently possess a valid Class "C" California drivers license and HAVE the ability to obtain within 6 months of hire
• Do not currently possess a valid Class "C" California drivers license and DO NOT HAVE the ability to obtain within 6 months of hire
• Other - please explain below

10

Why do you want to work for the City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department?

11

Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your responses to any of the previous supplemental questions?

Required Question

Employer City of San Luis Obispo

Address 990 Palm St

San Luis Obispo, California, 93401

Phone 805-781-7250

Website http://www.slocity.org