Ontario Fire Department

The Ontario Fire Department (OFD) protects the City of Ontario in San Bernardino County, a major logistics and commercial hub in California's Inland Empire that is also home to Ontario International Airport. It is a full-service, all-risk agency providing fire suppression and advanced life support emergency medical services.

The department is sizable, with 265 total personnel: 213 sworn firefighters and 52 professional staff. On any given day roughly 74 sworn members are on duty across the city.

Operations run from 11 strategically located fire stations, including a dedicated airport station. The response fleet includes 10 four-person paramedic engine companies, four four-person truck companies, an eight-person ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting) station, an alternate transport vehicle, two battalion chiefs, and fire investigators.

OFD is a busy department, responding to more than 22,000 calls each year, and is organized into seven operational bureaus covering operations, EMS, prevention, training and airport services, support services, administrative services, and personnel and professional standards.

Firefighter recruitment for the City of Ontario Fire Department is handled through the department's dedicated recruiting site, joinofd.org, with hiring administered by the City's Human Resources / Risk Management division. The department describes the firefighter role as anything but routine, with crews training, maintaining fitness, and staying ready to respond at any moment.

Prospective candidates should watch the Join OFD site and the City's careers portal for open filing periods and specific requirements. The City of Ontario was recognized as a USA Today Top Workplace for 2024-2025, cited for its leadership, compensation, and benefits.