Fire Department · Career
Kern County Fire Department
Bakersfield, CA · Kern County
“"Leadership. Integrity. Service."”
Pay scale
| Fire Engineer | $6,656–$7,955 monthly |
| First Responder Paramedic - Shift - Fire | $5,914–$7,068 monthly |
| Sheriff's First Responder Paramedic - Shift | $5,914–$7,068 monthly |
Kern County is hiring extra-help Fire Dispatch Assistants at a monthly pay of $4,186 to $5,003. This temporary role requires completing emergency medical and fire dispatch certifications during a 12-month probationary period, with applications retained continuously in an applicant pool.
Kern County is hiring an entry-level Fire Dispatcher I for temporary extra-help employment paying $4,625 to $5,527 monthly. Applications are retained in a standing applicant pool for six months.
Kern County is seeking experienced Fire Fighters for temporary Fire Engineer positions paying $6,656 to $7,955 monthly. Requires two years of firefighting experience, specific CSFM Driver Operator certificates, and a valid California Class C license.
Kern County seeks temporary Fire Helicopter Pilots earning $8,456 to $10,106 monthly. Requires FAA Commercial or ATP certificate with helicopter instrument rating, FAA Class II Medical, and 2,500 hours PIC helicopter flight time.
Kern County is hiring a temporary Fire Prevention Inspector I earning $5,135 to $6,137 monthly through an ongoing applicant pool. This role requires obtaining a CSFM Fire Inspector I Certificate within 18 months of appointment.
This temporary Fire Prevention Specialist II role pays $3,658 to $4,372 monthly and requires college coursework or experience in fire science, engineering, or physical science alongside one year of prevention experience.
This continuous recruitment seeks a First Responder Paramedic requiring a valid California Paramedic license and DMV Ambulance Driver Certificate at application. Benefits include health insurance, KCERA retirement, deferred compensation, and 12 paid holidays.
Kern County is hiring a temporary Seasonal Fire Supervisor at $30.30 per hour, requiring two seasons of firefighting experience or college coursework. Applications are retained in a continuous hiring pool.
Earn $22.16 per hour as a Seasonal Firefighter I in this temporary, extra-help role requiring a valid California Class C Driver's License and a High School Diploma or equivalent.
Kern County seeks a Seasonal Firefighter II for an extra-help position paying $24.58 per hour, requiring previous wildland experience, a Firefighter I academy, or college fire technology units.
Kern County is hiring a Seasonal Firefighter III for $26.98 per hour in an extra-help temporary role. Applicants need two fire seasons of experience or college fire technology units. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
Kern County Fire Department (KCFD) is a full-service, all-risk agency serving the unincorporated areas of Kern County plus contract cities including Arvin, Delano, Maricopa, McFarland, Ridgecrest, Shafter, Taft, Tehachapi, and Wasco. It protects a population of more than 500,000 people spread across roughly 8,161 square miles of Central California.
The department is staffed from around 48 fire stations and is budgeted for close to 687 permanent employees, including several hundred sworn firefighters, supplemented by seasonal wildland crews. Its response mix reflects the county's geography: engine companies and truck companies alongside wildland engines, hand crews, and two helicopters.
Beyond structure fire and emergency medical work, KCFD fields a Hazardous Materials Response Team, Urban Search and Rescue capability, and technical and hoist rescue resources, frequently supporting the Kern County Sheriff's Office on backcountry search and rescue missions.
Founded in 1927, the department has grown from a single fire warden into one of the larger county fire organizations in the state.
Entry-level candidates apply through the Kern County civil service process, typically for the Firefighter Recruit classification posted on the county's governmentjobs.com careers portal. Recruits are hired in a temporary status and must complete the Basic Fire Training Academy, National Registry EMT certification, and a probationary period before being appointed as a Firefighter.
The department also runs a Fire Recruit Assistance Program (FRAP) that offers educational workshops, mentorship, and connections to transportation or financial-aid resources to help prospective candidates prepare for a fire-service career.
Pay
Salary ranges are published per classification on the Kern County governmentjobs.com careers portal.
Schedule
48-hour shifts, averaging a 56-hour work week
Requirements
- High school diploma, GED, or equivalent
- Valid California Class C driver's license at time of appointment
- Enroll in and complete an approved National Registry EMT program; obtain National Registry EMT certification by end of probation
- Enroll in and participate in an approved basic firefighter training program upon appointment
- Pass a rigorous County Physician medical exam, drug screen, and physical fitness requirements
- Vision 20/40 uncorrected in each eye correctable to 20/20; pass Farnsworth D15 color vision test
Hiring process
- Apply for the Firefighter Recruit position through the Kern County governmentjobs.com careers portal
- Complete the civil service examination process
- Pass the County Physician medical examination, drug screen, and physical fitness testing
- Be appointed as a Firefighter Recruit in temporary status (not to exceed 6 months)
- Successfully complete the Basic Fire Training Academy
- Be appointed as a probationary Firefighter and complete probation, including National Registry EMT certification
Firefighter Recruits must successfully complete the Basic Fire Training Academy before being appointed as a probationary Firefighter.
How do I apply to become a Kern County firefighter?
Apply for the Firefighter Recruit classification through the Kern County civil service careers portal on governmentjobs.com, then complete the examination, medical, and physical fitness process.
What are the minimum requirements to be a Firefighter Recruit?
A high school diploma or GED and a valid California Class C driver's license. You must also enroll in approved EMT and basic firefighter training programs upon appointment and pass a medical exam and physical fitness testing.
Do I need to be an EMT before I am hired?
Recruits enroll in an approved National Registry EMT program upon appointment and must complete National Registry EMT certification by the end of the probationary period.
What schedule do Kern County firefighters work?
Firefighters work 48-hour shifts, with the work week averaging out to roughly 56 hours.
Is there a fire academy?
Yes. Firefighter Recruits are appointed in a temporary status (up to six months) and must successfully complete the Basic Fire Training Academy before becoming a probationary Firefighter.
Is there help available to prepare for the hiring process?
The department runs the Fire Recruit Assistance Program (FRAP), which provides educational workshops, mentorship, and connections to transportation or financial-aid resources for aspiring firefighters.