Firefighter / Paramedic (Internal Opportunity)

Firefighter / Paramedic

The City of Santa Cruz Fire Department is now accepting applications for the position of Firefighter / Paramedic. A Firefighter protects life and property from fire and other hazards by preventing, controlling and extinguishing fires; conducting emergency medical care and rescue operations; assisting with public education activities; and performing maintenance tasks and other related work as required.

Please see the Memorandum of Understanding to learn more about benefits and pay rates and practices including pay incentives.

Application and selection process : The following process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Human Resources Director. The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

On Thursday, 10 / 23 / 2025 recruitment will close. All application materials must be received by the Human Resources Department by 5 : 00 pm with all required documentation attached to the application.

Application - online application only. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of filling out the application form completely. Applications must include responses to the supplemental questions as well as the below required documents listed below.

Required to be submitted with your application : Current CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) card. Issue date must be within one year of recruitment opening date, October 1, 2024 or later, and must be valid. Please go to http : / / www.cffjac.org / go / jac / cpat / for schedule and registration information.

Required to be submitted with your application : A three-year DMV driving record printout (obtained within 30 days prior to recruitment closing date) scanned and attached to online application. Official printouts are issued by a Department of Motor Vehicles office or unofficial DMV printouts obtained online will be accepted. Request Your Driver's Record - California DMV.

Candidates that currently possess a California Paramedic License should provide proof with their application. Candidates who do not yet currently possess a California Paramedic license may qualify as below.

Not required at time of application, will be required at start and end of Fire Academy : Candidates will be required to have proof of passing the National Registry Paramedic Exam by the start of the Fire Academy as noted above.

Candidates will be required to provide a valid California Paramedic license by the end of Fire Academy, after graduation.

Week of 10 / 27 / 2025 : Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications for this position. Applicants will be notified of their status in the recruitment by 11 / 03 / 2025.

Week of 11 / 10 or 11 / 17 / 2025 : Interviews will be tentatively scheduled for qualified candidates. Interviews will be held at Santa Cruz Fire Administration, 230 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Qualified candidates invited to interview will be notified of their interview date and time at least one week prior to interview.

Selected candidates will be required to undergo and successfully pass the background investigation and pre-employment physical exam with the City of Santa Cruz.

Typical duties may include, but are not limited to those listed below :

• Responds to calls for fires, medical emergencies, rescues, fire alarms, hazardous materials, and other calls for service as needed.
• Drives and operates department vehicles as needed.
• Applies extinguishing agents to fires using hoses, nozzles, hydrants, pumps, hand tools, and other firefighting equipment.
• Enters burning structures to affect rescues and to extinguish fires. Uses ladders, hand tools, protective breathing apparatus, and power tools in the process.
• Performs rescues and removes people from burning buildings, cliffs, the ocean, bodies of water, and other hazardous conditions.
• Performs technical rescue and extrication using rope, hydraulic tools, ladders, and other specialized equipment.
• Performs various salvage operations at the scene of a fire using salvage covers, hand tools, brooms, shovels and similar equipment.
• Performs various overhauling operations at the scene of a fire to ensure that a fire is completely extinguished.
• Administers Basic or Advanced Life Support (BLS / ALS) to the ill or injured. Provides assessment and treatment at the scene of an incident and during transport.
• Participates in fire department training programs and maintains required skill levels.
• Assists in training as assigned.
• Performs fire prevention activities by inspecting buildings and their properties for fire hazards; reviewing plans and maps; advising owners of changes required and / or issuing compliance orders.
• Conducts fire education classes for the public and participates in public relations activities.
• Participates in pre-fire planning by inspecting and drawing floor plans of commercial and industrial buildings and institutions.
• Cleans, repairs, and maintains fire apparatus and equipment.
• Writes Patient Care Records (PCR) and other reports and records as assigned.
• Maintains station, quarters, and grounds; participates in painting and performing minor building maintenance on fire station and facilities.
• Receives radio and telephone calls, obtains specific information and / or refers calls as necessary to the proper agency.
• May be required to respond to fire or other emergencies during non-duty hours.
• Performs other related duties that may be reasonably expected as part of this classification.

Working conditions :

Lift, carry, drag and push tools, equipment, supplies, victims and patients weighing up to 165 pounds. Perform prolonged sitting, standing, climbing, walking, and running on variety of surfaces including, but not limited to, the following : level, rough, rocky, uneven, steep, and slippery. Perform movements including, but not limited to, balancing, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, grasping and making repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties. Hear pager, radio communications, human voice, sirens, alarms and other auditory warning devices clearly in both emergency and non-emergency situations. Smell in order to detect odors, such as smoke, gases and other odors that could indicate harmful or dangerous environments.

Uncorrected vision of 20 / 40 or better in one eye and 20 / 100 in the other, or corrected to 20 / 20 in one eye and 20 / 40 in the other; ability to distinguish colors to recognize flame, smoke, hazardous materials placards and skin signs. Use both near and far vision when assessing emergency situations, performing inspections and reading documents.

Firefighters in this position may be exposed to a variety of working conditions, including but not limited to wet, extreme heat and cold, smoke and products of combustion, explosions, electrical hazards, toxic or caustic chemicals, structurally compromised buildings / facilities, and biological / radiological hazards. This position may be exposed to loud noises such as helicopters, fire engines and chainsaws. The nature of the work may require Firefighters to climb and work on ladders at heights greater than 10 feet, work in confined spaces and wear a breathing apparatus.

Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Minimum qualifications :

Education and Experience :

High School graduation or equivalent.

Licenses and Certificates :

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid California Class C driver's license.

CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) issued within one year prior of the recruitment open date.

Proof of passing the National Registry Paramedic Exam.

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid California Paramedic License (must be maintained throughout employment).

Current ACLS certificate or local agency equivalent (such as Santa Cruz County Resuscitation Course).

Current PALS certificate or local agency equivalent (such as Santa Cruz County Resuscitation Course).

Current CPR certificate.

Firefighter Endorsement for California Class C (or higher) driver's license.

Hazardous Materials First Responder certification (FRO) by completion of probation.

Confined Space Awareness certification by completion of probation.

S-130 certification (Firefighter Training) by completion of probation.

S-190 certification (Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior) by completion of probation.

Knowledge :

Basic mathematics and mechanical principles.

Basic human anatomy and physiology.

Delivery of emergency medical services for both Basic and Advanced Life Support (BLS / ALS) care.

Abilities :

Learn technical concepts, procedures, and the operation of equipment utilized in firefighting, fire prevention and education.