Firefighter

Firefighter

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

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. If you are a lateral applicant, you will be required to have a CPAT/BPAT certificate before February 1, 2027.

Attachments needed for application: 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:

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

2. September 28 – October 9, 2026: Application Screening Window

3. 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.

4. 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

• Testing Schedules: View upcoming Cal-JAC CPAT and FCTC Written Test dates at

• Financial Assistance: Candidates experiencing financial hardship may apply for test fee assistance at

• 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.

Examples of duties and responsibilities:

• 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 children's 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:

• Effective interpersonal communication skills within a work team and with the general public.
• Principles of out-of-