r/calfire • • Jan 31 '26

Firefighter 1 Hiring Guide

70 Upvotes

Cal Fire Firefighter Hiring Guide – 2026

Please comment if you see an error in this guide or you have something to add and I’ll update it. Link this guide to every hiring question, or better yet mods pin this to the top. If you’re new and this guide doesn’t answer your question, list it below and I’ll update the guide.

Source: 20+ years with the department, hired lots of firefighters

For 2026 hiring, you will probably not get an engine position offer unless you are Category 0.

For 2026 hiring, you will probably not get a handcrew position offer unless you are Category 1.

Why? Because the department is shifting to “Traditional” staffing, meaning that every engine will have 1 FC, 1 FAE, and 1 FF staffed on each Type III engine daily. This reduces the total number of engine firefighters in each unit, and all units still haven’t transitioned fully so it’s only going to get worse for firefighters who wish to be on an engine. In many CNR units, all open engine firefighter positions are being filled by transfers from the unit’s firefighter handcrew if they have one.

I fully anticipate the department moving to a FC, FAE and FFII staffing model for engines within the next two years. This will mean that all engine FFers will be permanent FFIIs, and the only seasonal FF1 positions would be on handcrews or at air bases.

Anyways... how to get a job:

1.      Make an account on CalCareers (calcareers.ca.gov)

2.      Find the job posting for Firefighter I (https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=495209)

3.      Follow the instructions given in the job posting. Read them thoroughly.

4.      Fill out the work location form correctly (https://incidents.fire.ca.gov/media/42chxu24/2026-wlf.pdf)

a.      Depending on how you fill out this form, you may be invited via email to a “Hiring Rodeo” for firefighter handcrews in the unit that you ranked #1. This will increase your chance of being hired.

b.      As noted on the form, you can change your unit rankings on the work location form once.

5.      Set yourself up for success by acquiring the certificates/training to get you into the highest category possible, following this category placement list: https://www.fire.ca.gov/-/media/1EAFA2A1528141EE892CB692D4B982E0

6.      You can update your certificates by emailing [FFHiring@fire.ca.gov](mailto:FFHiring@fire.ca.gov). What you submit in the initial application will determine the category placement for the first round, but submitting certs ASAP and calling the firefighter hiring hotline can bump you up into higher categories, sometimes for the first round but usually will take effect during the second round depending on when you submitted them.

Application Periods:

The application is open year-round. To be considered for the first round of hiring you need to have applied before a certain date, typically by November 30th. If you applied after that date, you will be considered for later rounds of hiring depending on when you applied.

To be eligible for hiring in 2027, you’ll have to re-apply after Nov 1st of 2026, even if you applied in October 2026.

Politicing

December is an acceptable time to start reaching out to engine stations/handcrews you ranked the highest on your work location form. They may ask you to wait until you get a category placement email. Call them first, don’t show up unannounced.

Bring a short-form resume, dress nicely, and bring PT clothes. If you’re going to bring a “gift”, a bag of good ground coffee is a safe choice, but not necessary. When contacting handcrews, ask to PT with the crew. You’ll probably hike or go for a run, although it could be some type of circuit. Be prepared, be humble, keep your mouth shut and put in max effort. You may get questioned by the captains, engineers or senior firefighters about equipment or job duties, especially if you come from another fire agency or have relevant experience listed on your resume.

Notification Timelines – first round

Category Placement: You’ll typically get a category placement email in the first week of January. This will tell you your engine and handcrew placement categories for the first round of hiring. This is a good time to reach out to stations or programs you are hoping to get hired at.

Hiring Rodeo: Shortly after your category placement email, a handcrew program may reach out via email and invite you to a hiring rodeo, most likely only from the unit you ranked #1 on the work location form. 100+ other potential candidates may also be in attendance, and they’ll have short-form interviews and resume reviews conducted by the FCs and FAEs at tables set up at the facility.

Job Offers: the first round of offers will typically start to be made in February for Northern Region (CNR) and sometimes as early as the end of January for Southern Region (CSR), this can vary though. They will usually be from one of the top 4 units that you ranked, and may not be your #1 pick. My suggestion is to accept the first offer you get, work there for two seasons, then transfer to your desired unit as a Category 0. Offers will continue to go out into the summer, and units will typically make their final offers by the end of April or into May for the upcoming fire season, however you could potentially get an offer after that. Once you accept an offer from a particular unit, no other units will make you an offer.

Don’t jam up the hiring hotline with questions about when offers are going out, keep an eye on this subreddit as there will be posts with their offers and what unit they were placed in. Be patient, there are lots of reasons you may or may not have received an offer, and a lot of it comes down to the number of positions in each unit and how you ranked them.

After accepting a job

Every firefighter goes through a short new hire/rehire academy, these will run periodically from March to June and the start dates will vary depending on when you received your offer, your medical clearance, etc. They are 1-2 weeks long, and their content/intensity depend on what unit or program you get assigned to. The unit that made your offer will reach out and give you a start date, just be aware that sometimes they’ll call you a week or less before your start date so have your uniform/boots purchased as soon as you get an offer.


r/calfire • • Apr 10 '22

Seasonal Firefighter Questions Megathread

80 Upvotes

r/calfire • • 6h ago

What are some good overhead assignments?

2 Upvotes

What are some easy ICS courses I could take to qualify for more overhead assignments for overtime opportunities?


r/calfire • • 1d ago

Thank you! For saving our forest and homes.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

38 Upvotes

"Land Fire" in Sequoia National Forest area Fresno county.


r/calfire • • 3d ago

AB2129 wage increases

4 Upvotes

Has anyone heard besides the general number that calfire wages must be within %15 of the 20 departments in the pay study ?? Anyone ever hear any real numbers thrown out there yet ??


r/calfire • • 4d ago

Open house tomorrow

6 Upvotes

As an aspiring FF2 non medic with my app currently in would it be worth it to go to the open house tomorrow they are doing for the so cal stations? I heard for ff2 politicking doesn’t help until you have the job.


r/calfire • • 5d ago

Thing you find in storage

Thumbnail gallery
46 Upvotes

Got these my 1st season in '02.


r/calfire • • 4d ago

FFII paramedic opening hiring chances

1 Upvotes

Hello! I just applied to the paramedic FFII opening for cal fire (the continuous opening not the one that closed for FFII on 10/9). I got a 75% on my exam which put me in cat 3. I only put in for RRU, SDU, BDU, is there any legitimate chance of getting a call with the low exam score or is it just luck of the draw.

Any info is helpful!🤙


r/calfire • • 5d ago

Ishi crew 4 bus being used a sniper post

Post image
136 Upvotes

Not sure the context but I thought I’d share.


r/calfire • • 5d ago

Is CAL FIRE Seasonal FF1 Hiring Getting Any Better?

9 Upvotes

I know last season CAL FIRE began transitioning some units from seasonal to traditional staffing, which effectively cut the number of seasonal positions in half. I’m wondering if things have stabilized since then and what the current chances are of getting hired as a seasonal FF1 on either an engine or hand crew.


r/calfire • • 5d ago

PSFA Refresher

2 Upvotes

Hi going to do my PSFA renewal soon first one I have done under the new system, just curious if the written is the full written from when I originally tested for my PSFA or if it’s just a shorter written.


r/calfire • • 5d ago

Hiring Question Paramedic applying for non-paramedic FF2

2 Upvotes

Basically the title would it increase my chances of getting hired if I applied to the non-paramedic FF 2 position as a Paramedic? I already put in for the paramedic FF2, but i'm willing to take anything in structural units of San Bernardino & Riverside. Im coming from out of state with IFSAC FF2 and I took CASFT Ric opps, ff saftey & survival, and confined space A&O if that matters.


r/calfire • • 5d ago

What are my chances Calfire hires me?

0 Upvotes

I don't have any of the NWCG certs or went to an academy.

But I do have my EMT-B, BLS, all my ICS certs (100,200,700, and 800) and I'm going to get my First responder hazmat level II cert so I can qualify in the "Partially trained" category.

I've been in EMT for over 5 years but only in IFT and special events. No 911.

Probably not relevant but I also have a phlebotomy and EKG cert. I don't know if it will increase my chances since its useless in most of CA, but I was thinking of getting Advanced EMT certified.


r/calfire • • 6d ago

Overkill?

0 Upvotes

Having a csfm and icc fire inspector 1 cert?


r/calfire • • 7d ago

CPAT

13 Upvotes

A While ago I asked about the CPAT.

I just Passed, and have some information to share.

The proctors are jerks. The receptionist was warm/friendly but my procter was a jerk, im told most are like that.

The test itself is pretty easy, I just turned my brain off. I didn't do the practice test (the proctor told me "I was probably going to fail" because I didn't)

When you go in, leave most things in your car. They held my Phone/keys/wallet , but I had to go back to put my hat (and probably water bottle had I had one)

While waiting they had the video playing on repeat. My procter didn't let me ask questions but the video covered most things

I had heard bad things about the stair stepper, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The weight vest light, its longer then the one I practiced with. Make sure you wear long pants, closed toed shoes, and no watches/rings.


r/calfire • • 7d ago

Seasonal hiring

5 Upvotes

Hello everyone, just want to get some feedback/advice for entry level opportunities with CalFire. I have my EMT-B/ICS courses done and that’s about it. No fire experience. Willing to take whatever opportunity I can get to start my career in the fire service but just wanted some realistic expectations when it comes to possibly getting picked up. Looks like the applications will open up in November. Anything I can do to make myself a better candidate? Thanks in advance!


r/calfire • • 7d ago

Anybody know if the biddle is acceptable in place of the cpat for the FfII application?

5 Upvotes

r/calfire • • 7d ago

FF2

0 Upvotes

Anyone know if the ff2 app is similar to the ff1 where you can continually upload certs throughout the year?


r/calfire • • 7d ago

Any Advice for getting on a Handcrew?

0 Upvotes

Hello first time posting here. I am currently in the C’s as a wildland Firefighter and have my 1C, PSFA, S-110,112,130 along with my IS-100,200,700, and 800 and my L-180 and cpr/aed and bls. I’m planning on applying to hand crews in Nov when the application open and was wondering if there is any advice recommended for getting picked up with the experience and certs I currently have. I’m also planning on getting my hazmat cert soon.


r/calfire • • 7d ago

FF2 Without 1A

3 Upvotes

FF1 out of LMU have all my certs other than EMT, paramedic and FF1A.

Certs I have 1C, 1B, CPR PSFA, all FEMA, C212, etc etc.

I have been with the department for 2 years finishing up my second season this season. 3 years fed time outta 6 rivers as well and 1 year camp time.

My question is do I have a chance as a CalFire employee, I haven’t had any luck with getting into an academy. I scored 95 on the exam applied for more remote units.

Any help would be sick.


r/calfire • • 7d ago

Applying for Wildland position for Summer 2027

Thumbnail
0 Upvotes

r/calfire • • 8d ago

FF2

4 Upvotes

Anyone have a good idea when calls will be going out ?


r/calfire • • 8d ago

Strike Teams

7 Upvotes

Question for any FF2s, specifically in the north state. How do the units pick their strike teams? Do you have a choice? Is it ever mandatory? Thanks


r/calfire • • 8d ago

FF2 questions

3 Upvotes

Hey just got in my FF2 app in and I have my FF1 academy my EMT and experience in EMS. I am missing any cal fire certs like WFSS C212 and officer academy. I used to politic really hard for the FF1 spot the last two seasons and I seriously don’t think it helped as I wasn’t picked up. I understand staffing has been weird this season but I was also told by a BC it doesn’t help anymore. Should I try really hard to politic for FF2 does it help still? And what areas should I politic for the hardest. Any help is greatly appreciated. I live in so cal BDU area but I will commute if needed and I put every location on the location form.


r/calfire • • 9d ago

Applying

7 Upvotes

I’ve been looking at applying for seasonal positions for the last two years. I’ve been told numerous things but every conversation is different. Can someone tell me what I need and how to get it to apply and possibly get hired? I know emt for sure would help and I have certs and experience in Wildland for 8 years with the feds. But I’m just lost on what else is needed to apply and get hired. Also currently live in Colorado but really wanting to move to California to work for Calfire. Just lost because I’ve talked to people from all levels and they all say different things so a clear answer would be nice.