Firefighter Trainee & Firefighter Trainee​/Paramedic Certified

Applications will be accepted from January 23, 2026, through January 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) is committed to excellence in public safety, delivered with pride. Serving more than 840,000 residents in the unincorporated areas of Ventura County and the cities of Ojai, Port Hueneme, Moorpark, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks. The Department operates as an all-hazard, full-service agency supported by approximately 658 dedicated personnel.

Established in 1928 as a special district, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors serves as the Department’s Board of Directors. VCFD’s mission is to anticipate and respond to the evolving public safety needs of a diverse community through prevention, education, communication, and emergency response. The Department provides fire protection, emergency medical services, rescue operations, hazardous materials response, and a broad range of additional services to protect life, property, and the environment.

Firefighter Trainees, under direct supervision, suppress fires using firefighting equipment; perform emergency medical treatment; conduct rescue operations using ropes, associated hardware, and power tools; respond to hazardous materials releases as appropriate; assist in fire prevention, public relations, and educational activities; operate firefighting apparatus; perform station maintenance tasks; and perform related duties as required.

This is the entry-level classification of the firefighter series. Trainees are eligible for promotion to Firefighter following completion of a one (1) year probationary period, during which they must graduate from the Fire Academy, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

• Firefighter Trainee: $3,- $3,(biweekly)
• Firefighter: $3,- $4,(biweekly)

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.

Eligible applicants may receive either County service points or Veterans’ points. Applicants requesting Veterans’ points must attach official military documentation, such as a DD-214, DD-215, or NGB-22, prior to the close of recruitment. These points may not be applied simultaneously.

Ventura County Fire Department/Fire Protection District

• OPENING DATE:
  Friday, January 23, 2026
• CLOSING DATE:
  Friday, January 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. PST
• ONLINE WRITTEN EXAMINATION:
  Friday, February 27, 2026 - Wednesday, March 4, 2026*
• RECORDED ORAL EXAMINATION:
  Monday, March 30, 2026 - Monday, April 6, 2026*
• SELECTION INTERVIEWS: TBD

• Suppression and control of building and other fires by operating firefighting equipment in hazardous areas, confined spaces, and high places such as ladders. Suppresses grass and brush fires using fire hose and equipment and wildland firefighting hand tools. Conduct rescue operations from smoke-filled or confined areas that have been compromised by fire. Cleans up debris and does salvage work during and after firefighting.
• Performs emergency medical treatment to the minimum EMT – 1 level on ill and injured persons while in training. For paramedics only:
  Following completion of firefighting training, and upon recertification as a Paramedic, will be assigned to an advanced life support apparatus to perform paramedic duties for a period of at least three (3) years.
• Performs technical rescues using ropes and associated rescue hardware, various power tools and hand tools and techniques for special rescue situations (mechanical entrapments, confined spaces, high angle, and trench rescues).
• Responds to hazardous materials incidents to safely isolate and deny, make appropriate notifications, and perform mitigation tasks as appropriate.
• Perfor…