Redlands Fire Department

The Redlands Fire Department is an all-risk city fire department serving Redlands, California, an Inland Empire community of nearly 73,000 residents in San Bernardino County. Crews respond to more than 11,000 calls for service annually across an area of over 37 square miles, protecting nearly $7 billion in assessed property value. The department operates four fire stations staffed 24/7, with day-to-day emergency operations directed by three battalion chiefs under the fire chief.

Beyond structure fires, the emergency operations division answers medical calls at the advanced life support level around the clock and handles wildland fires, traffic accidents, hazardous materials response, confined space rescue, and swift water rescue. A Community Risk Reduction division — the fire marshal, a deputy fire marshal, two fire inspectors, and an administrative assistant — carries out development plan review, fire safety inspections, fire permits, cause-and-origin investigations, and the city's vegetation management program in high fire hazard areas.

The department traces its roots to Redlands Hose Company No. 1, a volunteer company organized on April 27, 1888. Today it fields 70 authorized full-time positions under Fire Chief Rich Sessler and works under the guiding principle "Preserving the Past and Protecting the Future."

Redlands hires through the City of Redlands portal on GovernmentJobs.com, and entry-level recruiting targets firefighter paramedics. The May 2025 Firefighter Paramedic recruitment required candidates to be current on the FCTC Statewide Eligibility List with a written score of 70% or higher, hold a valid Cal-JAC CPAT card, and be a graduate of an accredited California fire academy or hold California State Fire Marshal Firefighter I certification. A California paramedic license is required at appointment, with ICEMA paramedic accreditation within 30 days. Candidates advanced through panel interviews, a paramedic skills test, a Fire Chief's oral interview, a background investigation, and a post-offer medical examination. Lateral candidates were exempt from the CPAT requirement in that recruitment.