Fire Department · Combination
Kings County Fire Department
Hanford, CA · Kings County
Kings County Fire Department provides fire suppression, emergency medical service, rescue, and hazardous materials response to the unincorporated areas of Kings County in California's Central Valley. The department also delivers contracted service to the cities of Avenal and Corcoran.
The agency covers roughly 1,392 square miles and serves a population of about 153,000. It operates through three divisions, ten fire stations, and a headquarters office, staffed by around 90 full-time employees plus a corps of volunteer firefighters.
As a rural county department, it blends career and volunteer personnel to cover a large, spread-out service area, combining structural firefighting, EMS, and rescue work across farming communities and small cities.
Hiring is handled through Kings County Human Resources; open positions and applications are posted on the county's GovernmentJobs portal (governmentjobs.com/careers/kingscounty). Sworn roles such as Fire Apparatus Engineer require a California State Fire Marshal Firefighter I certification, a current EMT certificate, CPR, and a valid California driver's license, along with prior firefighting experience.
The department also runs a volunteer firefighter program: applicants 18 or older with a high school diploma or GED complete an 80-hour Volunteer Firefighter Academy (ten consecutive Saturdays) and commit to ongoing annual training. Volunteer service is a common entry point toward paid firefighting roles.
Requirements
- California State Fire Marshal Firefighter I certification (for Fire Apparatus Engineer)
- Current EMT certification
- Current CPR certification
- Valid California driver's license (Class A or B with endorsements upon appointment)
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Prior firefighter experience (one year paid, two seasons with CAL FIRE/a forest agency, or two years volunteer/paid-call)
- No use of tobacco products
- Volunteer path: minimum age 18, clean DMV record, proof of vehicle insurance, pass background and fingerprint check
Hiring process
- Qualification screening (pass/fail)
- Written examination
- Physical agility test
- Oral examination
- Background investigation with fingerprinting
- Medical examination and drug screen
Benefits
County benefits have included CalPERS retirement, county-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and paid vacation. Specific benefits vary by position and bargaining unit.
Volunteer firefighters complete an 80-hour Volunteer Firefighter Academy held over ten consecutive Saturdays, plus about 100 hours of annual training.
What certifications do I need to be hired as a firefighter/engineer?
Sworn positions such as Fire Apparatus Engineer require a California State Fire Marshal Firefighter I certification, a current EMT certificate, CPR, and a valid California driver's license, plus prior firefighting experience.
How do I apply?
Applications are submitted through Kings County Human Resources on the GovernmentJobs portal at governmentjobs.com/careers/kingscounty, where open fire positions are posted.
What does the hiring process look like?
Typical steps include a qualification screening, written exam, physical agility test, oral exam, a background investigation with fingerprinting, and a medical exam and drug screen.
What shift schedule do firefighters work?
Sworn field personnel work 48-hour shifts, with mandatory holiday and weekend availability.
Can I join as a volunteer firefighter?
Yes. Applicants 18 or older with a high school diploma or GED, a clean DMV record, and proof of insurance can apply; volunteers complete an 80-hour academy over ten Saturdays and keep up roughly 100 hours of annual training.
Does the department require you to be tobacco-free?
Yes. Firefighter recruitments specify that candidates cannot use tobacco products.