Stockton Fire Department

The Stockton Fire Department protects the city of Stockton and several contracted districts in California's San Joaquin Valley. It fields 214 sworn firefighters plus roughly 50 civilian staff, organized into six divisions: Administration, Operations, Fire Prevention, Training, Communications/Dispatch, and Emergency Medical Services.

The department serves a population of more than 336,000 over 91.9 square miles. It operates 13 fire stations housing 13 engine companies and 4 truck companies, with truck companies at Stations 2, 3, 4, and 7.

Beyond structure fire and EMS response, Stockton maintains specialized capabilities including a Hazardous Materials team based at Station 3 and an Urban Search and Rescue team at Station 2. Under contract, the department also serves the Lincoln, Eastside, Tuxedo-Country Club, and Boggs Tract fire protection areas.

Stockton has a deep history in the fire service: after 38 years of volunteer service dating to 1850, it was established as a fully paid professional department in 1888.

Firefighter positions with the City of Stockton are posted through the city's employment portal at governmentjobs.com/careers/stockton (NeoGov), where applications are submitted online. The department encourages people curious about a firefighting career to stop by their neighborhood fire station to learn more.

New hires complete the department's 82-day recruit academy, which delivers over 640 hours of instruction and certifications in State Firefighter I and II, Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations, and ICS 100/200. The Training Division oversees recruitment, testing, and EMS education from a facility with a five-story drill tower, multiple live fire structures, and a seven-acre drill ground.