Fire Department · Career
South San Joaquin County Fire Authority
Tracy, CA · San Joaquin County
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Department careers page ↗South San Joaquin County Fire Authority, known locally as "South County Fire," is an all-risk fire service formed through a Joint Powers Authority between the City of Tracy and the Tracy Rural Fire Protection District. The original South County Fire Authority was formed in 1999; in March 2018 the same member agencies reconstituted it into the current authority.
The agency covers roughly 170 square miles and serves more than 100,000 residents in the southern portion of San Joaquin County, spanning the incorporated city of Tracy and the surrounding rural community.
Service is delivered from seven fire stations plus a Fire Administration building. Four stations sit within Tracy's city limits and three lie within the Tracy Rural Fire Protection District. Operations run around the clock under a Deputy Chief of Operations and three Battalion Chiefs.
The career staff includes about 75 professional firefighters and 5 reserve firefighters, supported by a fire chief, two division chiefs, three battalion chiefs, a fire marshal, an EMS manager, a training officer, civilian fire inspectors, and administrative staff.
South County Fire hires entry-level firefighters primarily through the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center (FCTC) Statewide Eligibility List, so candidates generally need to be on that list to be considered. Applicants must hold a valid CPAT card, a California Fire Academy Firefighter I certificate, EMT-B or EMT-P certification, and a valid California driver's license.
Recruitments are posted and applications accepted through the agency's governmentjobs.com portal (under "tracyca"). Lateral candidates who have completed probation as a full-time firefighter elsewhere are considered. Benefit and hiring details are published on the authority's Human Resources page.
Requirements
- Must be on the FCTC (Firefighter Candidate Testing Center) Statewide Eligibility List
- Valid CPAT card
- California Fire Academy Firefighter I certification
- Valid EMT-B or EMT-P certification
- Valid California driver's license (Class C minimum)
- High school diploma or GED
Hiring process
- Be placed on the FCTC Statewide Eligibility List
- Submit an application with supplemental questionnaire and required attachments (CPAT card, certifications, license) through the governmentjobs.com portal
- Selection process for candidates from the eligibility list
Benefits
Reported incentives and differentials include paramedic pay (12.5%), education incentive (5% for an AA/AS in Fire Science or related public safety field), hazmat pay (5%), bilingual pay (2%), performance pay (3%), and administrative assignment pay (7.5%), along with scheduled cost-of-living increases.
California Fire Academy Firefighter I certification required; candidates with prior full-time firefighter experience may qualify as laterals.
How do I get hired as a firefighter here?
The authority recruits primarily from the FCTC Statewide Eligibility List. You generally need to be on that list, then apply through the agency's governmentjobs.com portal (under "tracyca") when a recruitment opens.
What certifications do I need to apply?
Applicants need a valid CPAT card, a California Fire Academy Firefighter I certificate, EMT-B or EMT-P certification, a valid California driver's license, and a high school diploma or GED.
What does an entry-level firefighter earn?
A 2024 Firefighter (Entry) posting listed $40.75-$49.53 per hour, roughly $84,761-$103,027 annually, plus differentials. Confirm current pay with the authority.
Are lateral firefighters accepted?
Yes. Candidates who have completed initial probation as a full-time firefighter elsewhere are considered as laterals.
What extra pay or incentives are offered?
Reported incentives include paramedic pay (12.5%), a 5% education incentive for a fire science AA/AS, hazmat pay (5%), bilingual pay (2%), performance pay (3%), and administrative assignment pay.