Firefighter/Paramedic - Entry Level

Salary : $105,871.95 - $128,179.22 Annually
Location : 198 D Street, Petaluma, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-00500
Department: Fire
Opening Date: 06/01/2026
Closing Date: 6/11/2026 5:00 PM Pacific


Summary/Class Characteristics
Firefighter/Paramedic - Entry Level

This recruitment is to fill one vacant position as well as to establish an eligibility list that can be used to fill additional vacancies that may occur during the next 12 months.


In addition to a competitive salary and CalPERS Retirement, this position offers a generous benefits package and many special pays and incentives. These include:

• CalPERS Health Program: City pays 95% of Bay Area Kaiser rate premium for employee and eligible dependents
• Dental/Vision/Life/LTD Insurance: paid 100% by City
• Retiree Medical Trust
• Holiday Pay: 156 hours per year (value approximately $5656 - $6848 annually)
• Longevity pay: 2.5% at 5 years, 5% at 8 years, 7.5% at 11 years and 10% at 15 years
• Education Pay: up to $2400 per year
• Bilingual Pay: up to $2400 per year
• Sick Leave: earn 144 hours per year. Sick leave will be charged against the employee's accrual at the rate of an hour for an hour based on actual sick leave usage, for the first day of sick leave used per injury and illness. Each successive day will be charged at the rate 12 hours for the same injury or illness.
• Compensatory Time Off Bank: earn hours at 1.5 times actual hours worked up to 240 hours
• Vacation Time: earn up to 12 shifts (288 hours) per year
• Cash in Lieu of Medical/Dental Benefits: receive 50% of Kaiser Bay Area premium and Dental premium as cash payment (with proof of other insurance for employee and eligible dependents)
• Paid Parental Leave - up to 8 weeks of paid time for qualifying family bonding

Please refer to the and the Human Resources for additional details.
PETALUMA FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Petaluma Fire Department is a full-service fire and rescue agency. The Department operates from three stations strategically located around Petaluma. The Department staffs two engine companies, one truck/engine cross-staffed company, three dual-role ALS ambulances, one part-time single role BLS ambulance (Tiered Response), and a 24-hour Battalion Chief. Last year, the PFD responded to over 8000 calls for service! We are currently recruiting to fill one vacancy and establish an eligibility list for any future vacancies that may occur within the next twelve months. Petaluma Firefighters work the 48/96 schedule and rotate each set between engine and ambulance positions. Call volume is challenging and varied but still allows time for training and exposure to the many facets that makes Petaluma a place for an exciting career. As an employee of the Petaluma Fire Department, you can expect to gain expertise in EMS response, Structure and Wildland Fire Suppression, Vehicle Extrication, Rescue Systems, and more. The response area is a combination of a historic downtown, urban, suburban, and rural areas. Our community has a river, marina, small airport, historic and modern industry, a highway, high-speed rail, rural roads, and wildland interface that all represent their own challenges and critical calls for service. Petaluma firefighters often work locally with CalFire and surrounding paid and volunteer organizations in the greater Petaluma area as well as provide strike team support on large incidents with our OES Type 1, Type 3 Engine and Type 6 brush truck.
The Petaluma Fire Department has a rich history of service since 1857!
THE POSITION A Firefighter/Paramedic responds to fires, medical emergencies, and other emergency and non-emergency situations and takes appropriate action to protect life and property; perform various staff support assignments in addition to normal emergency response activities. Firefighter/Paramedics are assigned to both engine and ambulance shifts. General supervision is provided by the Fire Captain, and responsibilities may include the indirect supervision of support staff.

Duties
Respond to calls for medical aid, including traffic collisions and rescue situations. Provide pre-hospital care, including examining patients and monitoring vital signs; establish I.V. lines, administer medications, insert airway, defibrillate heart and take other basic and advanced first aid and life support actions; communicate with hospital and or health care professionals in person or by radio; complete required reports. Restock supplies and maintain ambulances and other emergency vehicles and equipment in proper working condition.
In a fire emergency, connect supply lines, control and extinguish fires, using various size hand-lines, deck ladders and portable water monitors; connect foam eductors and apply foam and chemicals for fire suppression and control.
Search buildings and rescue victims from buildings and motor vehicles sometimes using specialized power and hand tools; use various hand and power tools to obtain entry to buildings, free trapped accident victims, and provide ventilation.
Participate in specialized rescue operations, including aerial, water, underground and confined space situations, including the use of rigging and shoring.
Contain, control, and decontaminate hazardous material spills.
Participate in clean-up, salvage, overhaul operations; clean, service, and ensure operational readiness of fire vehicles, apparatus, hoses and equipment; assist with the maintenance of stations and facilities.
Participate in various staff support assignments including but not limited to: fire prevention, inspection, and maintenance of inventory records, scheduled inspection of department equipment, fire inspection, and investigation.
Work with the community in a variety of educational, public relations, and service programs; may provide CPR training classes as assigned.
May serve in higher level classification, on a relief basis if certified and/or licensed to do so; may direct the work of others, particularly in a medical emergency.
Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Knowledge of:

Basic principles and practices of fire suppression and prevention.
Basic principles and practices of emergency medical care at the basic and advanced life support levels.
Safety practices and precautions pertaining to the work; basic computer report production techniques.
Education and Experience

Any combination equivalent to the education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to gain such knowledge and abilities would be:
Education:

Equivalent to graduation from high school.
Completion of an accredited firefighter academy or possession of a Firefighter I certificate is required.
Experience:

Ambulance experience as a Paramedic or EMT and previous firefighting experience in a volunteer or paid capacity is highly desirable.
Required Licenses/Certifications
Must possess a valid California Class C driver license. Must obtain a valid California Class C driver license with a Firefighter Endorsement or higher within 36 months of hire.

Physical Requirements

Must pass and maintain physical requirements as specified by the City and be able to wear self-contained breathing apparatus.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Entry Level Firefighter/Paramedic

• Current accreditation as a Paramedic in advanced life support, either through the National Registry or State of California OR currently attending an accredited California Paramedic Academy at the time of application. Certification as a Paramedic in advanced life support, either through the National Registry or State of California is required prior to a final job offer.
• CPAT required prior to conditional job offer. (This requirement is waived if the applicant is currently employed with a fire department for more than 12 months concurrently or is a current Petaluma Fire Department BLS EMT).
• CSFM Firefighter 1 certification or FF1 Academy Completion required.
  • Exception: Paramedics may apply if currently enrolled in a CSFM FF1 Academy. FF1 Academy completion is required prior to a final job offer.

California Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)

Some applicants are required to submit proof of successful completion of a California Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) to Human Resources prior to the interview panel assessment. The CPAT card of completion must have an issuance date that is less than a year from the date of application for the proof to be valid. Go to for upcoming test dates.
If you do not have a valid CPAT card at the time your application is submitted, you must indicate the date and location of your scheduled test on your supplemental questionnaire. Once you have received your CPAT card, please submit a PDF copy via email to as soon as it is available.
Application and Selection Process:

All completed application documents will be reviewed. An application submitted without complete information will not be considered. A screening committee will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant who has met the minimum requirements for the position. The highest-ranking applicants will be invited to continue in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement in the process, and the decision of the screening committee is final.
Highly Qualified Applicants

Applicants demonstrating the following will be rated as most highly qualified:

• Full-time paid Firefighting experience.
• Experience as Paramedic on an ambulance responding to emergency 911 calls.

Hiring Requirements
Candidates being considered for selection are subject to an oral interview, practical exercise or other qualification testing, background investigation, polygraph, pre-employment medical/psychological examination, and State of California Department of Justice fingerprint search of records. Successful candidates must pass a drug screen as part of the pre-employment medical examination to be considered for appointment. All statements made on application materials must be correct and will be subject to investigation and verification.

Physical Demands and Working Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk or hear, and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Incumbents assigned to this classification, when performing actual fire cause investigations or other fire prevention activities, will be required to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, such as very hot and/or very cold temperatures.
Incumbents must be able to move debris and dirt or other material using a shovel or rake, walk over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces, work at heights greater than 10 feet, climb ladders or steps to reach objects, wear a self-contained breathing apparatus, hear alarms and other auditory warning devices, observe or monitor objects, such as fire protection equipment and systems, buildings, underground storage tanks or data, such as underground tank test results.
Incumbents may be required to work in small, cramped areas, use common hand tools, bend or stoop repeatedly or continually over time, use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body, perform physical inventories, discriminate among colors or match colors of wiring systems and color-coded valves and piping, move objects (such as portable generators, tools, equipment and evidence) weighing up to 50 pounds over long distances, stand or walk for extended periods of time with the inability to rest at will, and use arms above shoulder level.
When not performing duties in the field, incumbents work in an indoor office setting and are required to enter data into a terminal, PC, or keyboard device, produce written documents using proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling, use graphic instructions, blueprints, and layouts as part of the plan review process when checking for code compliance and sit for extended periods of time with the ability to move at will.
The City of Petaluma offers a wide-ranging, comprehensive benefit package including CalPERS retirement, medical, dental, vision, life, LTD, etc. For more information regarding the benefits associated with this position, visit our website:
01


Have you completed a Firefighter 1 Academy, have a Firefighter 1 Certificate, or are currently enrolled in a Firefighter 1 Academy? If you answer "No" then you do not meet the minimum requirements for this job and your application will be disqualified. (check the one that applies)

• Currently enrolled in a FF1 Academy
• FF1 Academy Completion or FF1 Certificate
• No - not qualified for this recruitment

02


Are you currently enrolled in a paramedic program, completed your paramedic field internship, or hold a valid certification as a paramedic in advanced life support, either through the National Registry or State of California? If you do not meet any of these criteria, then you do not meet the minimum requirements for this job and your application will be disqualified.

• Possess a current paramedic certification through National Registry or State of California
• Have completed paramedic internship but not yet accredited
• Currently attending a California accredited Paramedic Academy
• No - not qualified for this recruitment

03


If you have your State Paramedic license, please indicate when you received it and list any counties where you hold valid accreditation.
04


Do you have experience as a paid full-time Firefighter/Paramedic or Firefighter/EMT? (Does not include seasonal positions) If yes, please indicate the employer(s) and total period of time worked.
05


Do you have experience as a seasonal Firefighter? If yes, please indicate the agency or agencies and the season(s) worked.
06


Do you have experience as a paid part-time or volunteer Firefighter? If yes, please indicate the employer(s) and total period of time worked.
07


Have you worked as a Paramedic on a 911 ambulance? If yes, please indicate the employer(s), total period of time, average hours per week, and average daily call volume.
08


Have you worked as a Paramedic on an Inter-Facility Transfer ambulance? If yes, please indicate the employer(s), total period of time, average hours per week, and average daily call volume.
09


Have you worked as a Paramedic providing engine-based ALS for a Fire Department (including volunteer)? If yes, please indicate the employer(s), total period of time, average hours per week, and average daily call volume.
10


How long were you an EMT before becoming a Paramedic?
11


Have you worked as an EMT on a 911 ambulance? If yes, please indicate the employer(s), total period of time, average hours per week, and average daily call volume.
12


Have you worked as an EMT on an Inter-Facility Transfer ambulance? If yes, please indicate the employer(s), total period of time, average hours per week, and average daily call volume.
13


Have you worked as an EMT providing engine-based BLS for a Fire Department (including volunteer)? If yes, please indicate the employer(s), total period of time, average hours per week, and average daily call volume.
14


If you are invited to the examination process, you will be required to submit proof of successful completion of a California Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) prior to the conditional job offer. If you have been employed with a fire department for at least the last 12 months or are a current Petaluma BLS employee, this requirement is waived. Have you successfully completed a California Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) within the last 12 months? If yes, what is the issuance date? If no, when are you planning to take the CPAT? - please list date and location.Go to for a list of upcoming test dates.
15


In order to be considered, you must attach the following to your application:1. California State Certified Firefighter 1 OR Certificate of completion from a California State Board of Fire Service Approved Fire Academy OR Proof of current enrollment in a FF1 Academy2. Current certification as a Paramedic in advanced life support, either through the National Registry Paramedic or State of California OR proof of completion of Paramedic field internship (letter from school/ copy of field internship evaluation) or proof of current enrollment in a paramedic program3. Copy of valid CPAT, if applicable.Failure to provide this information will result in disqualification from the recruitment process. Do you understand this requirement?IMPORTANT: Please do not attach documents that are not requested.
Required Question