Fire Department · Combination
Marinwood Fire Department
San Rafael, CA · Marin County
The Marinwood Fire Department protects the Marinwood-Lucas Valley community, an unincorporated residential area of roughly 2,500 households in north-central Marin County between San Rafael and Novato. It is a department of the Marinwood Community Services District, an independent special district formed in 1960 in large part to secure local fire protection; bond funding from that era built the original firehouse along with the district's park, community center, and pool. An elected Board of Directors governs the district, and a dedicated Fire Commission oversees fire department operations.
The department operates from a single station on Miller Creek Road as an all-risk Advanced Life Support engine company — Engine 58 — staffed by nine professional firefighters working three shifts. Members are trained in structural firefighting, ALS and BLS emergency response, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, disaster response, and fire prevention.
Under a long-standing Shared Services Agreement with the City of San Rafael, amended in 2018, the San Rafael Fire Department provides Marinwood's chief officer services, ambulance transport, and joint training programs. On the prevention side, the department runs a smoke detector program, home wildfire-preparedness resources, CERT training, and CPR and first aid classes for the community.
MissionTo partner with our community to proactively reduce risk from fire, illness, injury and other hazards.
Marinwood hires at the Firefighter-Paramedic rank through continuous, open-until-filled recruitments posted on CalOpps. The job is an engine-based paramedic assignment, and candidates must be active on the FCTC statewide candidate list before an interview can be scheduled.
The selection process runs from an application and document review to a paramedic assessment panel, an oral board interview scored at 70% to pass, and a department interview, followed by a background investigation, psychiatric evaluation, drug screen, and pre-employment physical. There is no recruit academy — new firefighters complete on-shift training based on their experience. Suppression personnel work a three-platoon 48/96 schedule and are represented by Marinwood Firefighters' IAFF Local 1775.
Requirements
- CPAT card dated within the last 12 months
- California State Firefighter 1 prior to appointment (IFSAC and Pro Board certifications accepted)
- Valid California Paramedic License, or ability to obtain prior to appointment
- Valid Class C driver's license with a satisfactory driving record
- High school diploma or GED
- Active placement on the FCTC statewide candidate list before an interview can be scheduled
Hiring process
- Submit an application packet with all required documents through CalOpps
- Register for the FCTC written test if not already active on the statewide candidate list
- Application and attachment review
- Paramedic assessment panel
- Oral board interview (70% required to pass)
- Placement on the recruitment eligibility list
- Department interview
- Background investigation with fingerprinting and criminal history check
- Psychiatric evaluation, drug screen, and pre-employment physical exam
Benefits
Marinwood firefighters are covered by CalPERS — 2.7% at 57 for new members hired since 2013 — and also participate in Social Security and Medicare. Per the 2024–26 MOU:
- District pays 80% of the CalPERS Kaiser health plan premium, and 100% of Delta Dental and VSP vision premiums up to family coverage
- District-paid life and long-term disability insurance, plus an employee assistance program
- 457 deferred compensation plan through Nationwide
- Paramedic incentive of 10% above top-step firefighter base pay; college incentive of 2.5–5% for fire technology coursework or degrees
- 11 paid holidays and sick leave accrual of 14 hours per month
No recruit academy — new hires complete on-shift training based on experience.
Can candidates visit the Marinwood fire station before applying?
Yes — station visits are highly encouraged. Prospective applicants can schedule one by emailing firedepartment@marinwood.org.
How long is Marinwood Fire Department's eligibility list valid?
Candidates who pass every phase of the recruitment are placed on an eligibility list valid for 12 months. Final appointments are made from department interviews, so placement on the list is not a guarantee of appointment and hires are not necessarily made in strict rank order.
Can paid firefighter experience substitute for the Firefighter 1 certificate?
One year of experience as a paid firefighter may be considered in lieu of the Firefighter 1 certification. IFSAC and Pro Board Firefighter 1 certificates are also accepted.