Fire Department · Career
Albany Fire Department
Albany, CA · Alameda County
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Department careers page ↗The Albany Fire Department serves the City of Albany, California, a 1.7-square-mile community of roughly 18,500 residents (2010 census) on the east shore of San Francisco Bay in Alameda County. Based at 1000 San Pablo Avenue, the department's operations include fire suppression, paramedic services, arson investigation, hazardous materials mitigation, urban search and rescue, public education, and fire prevention, with mutual aid agreements with adjoining city fire departments extending coverage regionally.
The department fields an Open Water Rescue Team for emergencies on San Francisco Bay, focused on the Albany shoreline. The team operates two 11-foot rescue boards crewed by California State Fire Marshal-certified open water rescue swimmers working with a shore-based team, in a coordinated response built with the U.S. Coast Guard and neighboring fire agencies.
A Fire Prevention Bureau runs the department's company inspection program, an annual weed abatement program, and a photoelectric smoke detector compliance program, and reviews building plans for fire code requirements. The department also anchors the city's disaster preparedness work, from CERT courses and community CPR classes to the Emergency Operations Center.
The City of Albany hires firefighter/paramedics through its recruitment portal on GovernmentJobs.com, running separate entry-level and lateral processes. Albany hires certificated personnel: candidates apply with fire and EMS certifications attached, and the most qualified are invited to an oral board interview and paramedic assessment staffed by Albany Fire Department raters and other subject-matter experts. Those who pass are placed on an eligibility list, and top-ranked candidates advance to a chief's interview followed by a conditional offer contingent on a background investigation, psychological evaluation, and medical examination. Lateral firefighter/paramedic hiring was active as of July 2026.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED equivalency
- Valid CPAT (within one year at time of application)
- Current full-time firefighter/paramedic with at least six months of paramedic experience at a 911 transporting agency
- California Paramedic License
- ACLS, PALS or PEPP, PHTLS or ITLS, and BLS for Healthcare Provider certifications
- Valid California driver's license with DMV Firefighter Endorsement
- California State Fire Marshal Firefighter I certificate preferred; completion of an accredited California State Fire Training Firefighter I academy may be considered
- Free of felony convictions; must pass a background investigation, psychological evaluation, and medical examination
Hiring process
- Submit an application with certifications attached through the City of Albany portal on GovernmentJobs.com
- Oral board interview and paramedic assessment
- Placement on the eligibility list
- Chief's interview
- Background investigation, psychological evaluation, and medical examination
- Final offer of employment
Benefits
Albany firefighters participate in CalPERS retirement at 3% at 55 for Classic members and 2.7% at 57 for PEPRA members.
- City-paid Kaiser medical premium (other CalPERS health plans available) and city-paid Delta Dental
- Holiday pay in lieu of days off and a uniform allowance
- Longevity pay of 2.5-10% of base beginning at 9 years of city service
- Voluntary 457 deferred compensation and Roth IRA plans
- Education reimbursement up to $2,000 per fiscal year and a city-paid $50,000 life insurance policy
- Up to 2,000 hours of unused sick leave convertible to PERS service credit at retirement
Albany hires already-trained firefighter/paramedics rather than sponsoring recruits through an academy: entry-level candidates must have completed a Firefighter I academy accredited by California State Fire Training at time of application, with the State Fire Marshal Firefighter I certificate preferred.
Does the Albany Fire Department accept lateral firefighters?
Yes. As of July 2026 the department was recruiting lateral firefighter/paramedics with a California State Fire Marshal Firefighter I certification, at least one year as a full-time firefighter/paramedic, and a completed probationary period at their current agency.
How can I find out when the Albany Fire Department is hiring?
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