Fire Department · Career
Barstow Fire Protection District
Barstow, CA · San Bernardino County
Barstow Fire Division seeks experienced firefighters for a Fire Engineer role with an hourly wage, EMT certification required, and generous benefits including tuition reimbursement and skill pay.
Apply for a Firefighter Paramedic role with an annual salary of $60,000-$80,000, EMT-P certification required, bilingual pay available, and generous benefits including tuition reimbursement and holiday leave.
The Barstow Fire Protection District is an all-hazard career department covering the City of Barstow and roughly 86 square miles of the central Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, including unincorporated communities such as Lenwood, Barstow Heights, Grandview, and Skyline. About 48,000 residents live in the district, which handles approximately 8,000 calls for service a year spanning fire suppression, advanced life support EMS, hazardous materials, technical rescue, and disaster response.
Formed by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on May 24, 1926 as the Barstow Volunteer Fire Department, the district ran its first call that November with a Model T chemical engine and has fielded a combination of career and volunteer personnel since 1957. In 2010 a LAFCO-approved reorganization made it a subsidiary district of the City of Barstow: the five-member City Council sits as the fire board, city administration manages district business, and a fire chief leads operations.
The district budgets 30 full-time positions, from the fire chief and three battalion chiefs through captains, engineers, firefighter/paramedics, and firefighters. Two paramedic engine companies, a paramedic squad, and an on-duty battalion chief provide ALS coverage, backed by a cross-staffed water tender, hazardous materials unit, and an OES Type 1 engine. Headquarters is Station 361 on Barstow Road; mutual-aid partners include San Bernardino County Fire, Fort Irwin, and Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow.
Hiring runs through City of Barstow Human Resources, with applications filed on the city's GovernmentJobs.com portal. The district also maintains its own recruitment site, Join Barstow Fire, which lists current recruitments from Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/Paramedic through promotional engineer, captain, and chief-officer ranks, and posts study materials for each classification.
Firefighter Paramedic candidates need a high school diploma or GED, a California State Fire Marshal Firefighter I certificate or CSFM-accredited academy, a California paramedic license with ACLS, CPR certification, San Bernardino County paramedic accreditation (or the ability to obtain it), and a driver's license with firefighter endorsement. Suppression personnel work a 56-hour workweek.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED; at least 18 years of age
- Valid driver's license with firefighter endorsement and a good driving record
- California State Fire Marshal Firefighter I certificate or CSFM-accredited Level I academy
- California paramedic license with ACLS certification (Firefighter Paramedic)
- San Bernardino County EMT-P accreditation at time of application, or ability to obtain it
- CPR certification
Benefits
Benefits follow the MOU between the City of Barstow and the Barstow Professional Firefighters' Association (Unit 5):
- SBCERA retirement, 457(b) deferred compensation, dental and vision, and disability coverage
- Cafeteria medical allowance of $1,100–$1,900 per month by coverage tier
- Skill pays: paramedic $1,000/month, EMT $275/month, hazmat $125/month, USAR $100/month, plus 3–5% above base for Firefighter II, driver/operator, and company officer certifications
- Education incentives of $1,000–$1,500 per year, tuition reimbursement up to $1,000 per year, a $900 annual uniform allowance, and 15 days of holiday leave
Does the Barstow Fire Protection District require paramedic certification?
The district recruits both Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/Paramedic classifications. Firefighter Paramedic hires must hold a California paramedic license with ACLS and be accredited (or able to become accredited) as a paramedic in San Bernardino County; paramedic certification adds $1,000 per month in skill pay.
How many paramedics ride on Barstow fire apparatus?
The district is an advanced life support provider and states it strives to staff a minimum of two paramedics on every apparatus, so a Barstow engine arriving at a medical call brings paramedic-level care.
How can I prepare for a Barstow Fire hiring exam?
The district publishes study materials for each classification — from Firefighter/EMT through chief officer — on its Join Barstow Fire recruitment site, and openings are posted on the City of Barstow's GovernmentJobs portal. To hear about new Barstow openings, watch this department on Driftsmoke.