Salary to increase by 5% effective January 3, 2027: New salary range will be $106,202 - $135,544 annually
5% across the board negotiated for January 2028
Additional Educational and Technical Rescue incentive pay available (see MOU)
Tentative dates for our examination are as follows:
Physical assessment: Tentatively scheduled for the week of September 28, 2026
Captain's Interviews: Tentatively scheduled for the week of October 5, 2026
Chief's interviews: Tentatively scheduled for the week of October 26, 2026
Target Hire Date: January 17, 2027
If you want to join a hardworking team that shares a commitment to provide top-quality municipal services in a prime North County location, consider a career with the City of Escondido. We have an opening for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic in our Fire Department. For a complete listing of job duties and qualifications, please refer to the corresponding job description, which can be obtained from the Human Resources Department or downloaded from the City's website.
Under supervision, responds to fire alarms, emergency medical calls, and other emergency calls to protect life and property; participates in fire training, fire prevention, public education, station and equipment maintenance activities, operates a paramedic unit in response to medical emergencies and provides definitive medical care. Supervision is received from a Company Captain, Acting Captain or Engineer; direction is received through EMS protocol and emergency medical services manager; supervision may be exercised over part-time or probationary positions.
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
Responds to alarms involving fire, all types of accidents, gas leaks, flooded structures, hazardous substances, and life saving and rescue work.
Places fire hoses, sets ladders, operates fire streams, ventilates and enters burning structures to extinguish fires and perform rescue services.
Performs salvage and overhaul operations during and after fires to remove hazards and prevent water damage.
Performs first aid and life saving duties.
Operates pneumatic and auxiliary equipment such as generators and pumps.
Stands fire watches.
Drives fire apparatus and/or acts as Engineer as assigned, if properly certified.
Provides definitive care and treatment in the field to persons in life threatening medical situations, under radio direction of a mobile intensive care unit physician or nurse.
Supports and assists other fire and medical personnel as directed on medical calls.
Operates a paramedic vehicle safely; treats and transports patients in accordance with San Diego County Emergency Medical Services protocol and department policy.
Prepares and maintains a variety of records and reports such as controlled drug inventory, equipment and station logs, and EMS reports.
Performs fire prevention and prefire planning inspections in commercial, industrial and municipal facilities.
Inspects and performs maintenance on hydrants
Performs decontamination procedures in compliance with CalOSHA regulations.
Engages in drills and participates in self-directed exercise program to maintain physical fitness.
Studies and keeps up to date on City geography, department rules, regulations, procedures and other training and job related materials.
Washes, polishes, and performs preventive maintenance on fire apparatus and equipment.
Cleans and maintains fire station and grounds.
Updates station bulletin boards and maps.
In the event of a major fire or emergency, may be called in from off duty to work an extended period of time.
Presents programs and participates in the department’s public relations programs as assigned.
Performs related work as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:
Firefighting and EMS procedures and equipment.
Fire ground tactics and strategy; emergency incident management, specifically the Incident Command System (ICS); principles of incident safety; automatic and mutual aid agreements; hazardous materials procedures; and confined space and technical rescue techniques.
Hazardous materials, fire prevention procedures and related codes.
Rescue operations and procedures.
California vehicular laws related to operation of various firefighting and rescue apparatus.
Safety principles and practices related to the Fire Service.
Policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the Escondido Fire Department and the City of Escondido.
Geography and street layout of the City and surrounding area.
Laws and regulations pertaining to fire and emergency medical services operations.
Personal Protective Equipment.
Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
Algebraic and arithmetic computations.
English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Principles and practices of customer service.
Ability to:
Perform competently under extreme pressure and in stressful situations.
Make accurate observations and rapid judgments.
Understand a variety of procedural instructions; written and oral, and convert to proper actions.
Give oral instructions to others.
Prepare clear, concise, accurate written reports.
Deal tactfully and effectively with the general public.
Work cooperatively with others and contribute to a successful team effort.
Maintain physical endurance and agility.
Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
Education:
Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of appointment.
Must be a high school graduate or have passed the G.E.D. test with overall minimum score of 45 and minimum score of 35 on any test.
Licenses / Certificates and Other Requirements:
Must possess a valid Class C California Driver’s License at the time of appointment.
Must obtain a Firefighter endorsement to accompany the Class C California Driver’s License within two years of employment.
To apply for this position, applicant must:
Be currently licensed as a paramedic in the State of California, in the process of becoming licensed or currently attending paramedic school; and
Be accredited in San Diego County, have San Diego County EMS provisional accreditation or be capable of becoming accredited in San Diego County.
Must be a graduate of a California State Certified Firefighter I Academy or equivalent, or must currently be attending a California State Certified Firefighter I Academy and will have graduated by the time of appointment. Equivalency will be determined by the Escondido Fire Department Training Division.
At the time of appointment, individuals must:
Be currently licensed as a paramedic in the State of California.
Must be accredited as a Paramedic in the County of San Diego within 90 days of hire. Paramedic licensure and accreditation must be maintained as a condition of continued employment. Escondido Fire Department paramedics must comply with the San Diego County EMS Paramedic Guidelines.
Must be a graduate of a California State Certified Firefighter I Academy or equivalent, or must currently be attending a California State Certified Firefighter I Academy and will have graduated by the time of appointment. Equivalency will be determined by the Escondido Fire Department Training Division.
Must obtain a State Firefighter I Certification within one year of employment if not possessed at time of hire.
Must not have been convicted by a state or by the federal government of a crime, the punishment for which could have been imprisonment in a federal or state prison.
Residency Requirement:
Must reside within a one-hour normal driving time of Fire Station #1, or must comply with the following requirement:
Employees shall not be allowed to reside in Mexico.
Employees unable to meet departmental requirements for filling overtime on short notice may be ineligible for certain categories of overtime (i.e., sick leave relief, etc.) and
Modification of an employee’s work schedule in order to mitigate the personal impacts of long-distance commuting will not be permitted.
NOTE: For a complete listing of job duties and qualifications, please refer to the corresponding job description, which can be obtained from the Human Resources Department or downloaded from the City's web site. The City of Escondido is committed to a drug and alcohol free workplace.
All applicants will be subject to fingerprint investigation before a conditional offer of employment is extended. A pre-employment medical examination will be conducted following a conditional offer of employment for all positions. Safety sensitive positions will include a pre-employment drug screen. Positions subject to the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations will be subject to DOT pre-employment drug testing and random drug and alcohol testing.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Applications will be screened and the most qualified candidates will be invited to appear for testing. All positions require the ability to read, write and speak English. Types of tests may include written and/or oral examination, physical agility, practical exam or other appropriate job-related selection process. When testing is completed, candidates will be ranked on an eligibility list in the order of their test score. Selection for appointments is made from names certified on the eligibility list.
All appointments are subject to the successful completion of background investigation including LIVESCAN fingerprinting, and will be required to submit verification of the legal right to work in the United States. Qualification by a medical examination will be required at the time of appointment. After appointment, classified employees must satisfactorily complete a probationary period to be eligible for regular status. In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, all new employees must produce proof of eligibility to work in the United States within the first three days of their employment. The City of Escondido participates in E-Verify®.
The Loyalty Oath will be administered to all new employees on their first day of hire. New employees hired into positions that require a driver's license must provide proof of a valid California Driver's License of the appropriate class level on their first day of employment.
Additional information regarding the essential functions and physical, environmental and communication demands of the position may be obtained from the Human Resources Department. If you require reasonable accommodation in the testing process, such as an alternate means of testing, you must contact the Human Resources Department by the final filing date to complete a Request for Reasonable Accommodation form. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.
Note: Pursuant to California Civil Code section 1786.53, the City of Escondido shall provide to all job candidates a copy of any records of arrest, indictment, conviction, civil judicial action, tax lien or outstanding judgment which was obtained in the course of conducting an evaluation for employment, assignment, and/or promotion. A copy of this information, if received by the City, will be given to candidates within seven days of the City's receipt.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE
Eligible individuals are those who meet the following criteria:
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Served in the U.S. armed forces
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Received an honorable discharge
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Did not retire from military service
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Seeking employment with the City of Escondido for the first time.
Guard and Reserve active duty for training purposes does not qualify for veterans' preference. Proof of eligibility (copy of DD-214) must be submitted at time of application, or later if the promulgation of the eligibility list will not be delayed. Veterans' preference credit will only be applied to eligible applicants who attained a passing grade (total score exclusive of credit) on the final open examination.
ABOUT OUR CITY
The City of Escondido is a prominent agricultural, commercial hub and residential center of North San Diego County. Located a short 30-minute drive from the beach, the mountains or downtown San Diego, Escondido residents enjoy the pleasure of a rural lifestyle with all the benefits of suburban living. Escondido is a diverse, vibrant community with many amenities. The city offers attractive homes in a wide range of prices, two lakes, several parks, a sports center, golf courses, restaurants, wineries, shopping centers, a variety of art galleries, entertainment venues, and a state of the art hospital. Established in 1888, the city's rich past brings charm and stability to the community; yet integrated with Escondido's treasured heritage is a progressive future, bright and brimming with promise.
EOE The City of Escondido does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, sex, age, national origin, or sexual orientation. We will attempt to reasonably accommodate applicants with disabilities upon request.
