Fire Department · Career
Turlock Fire And Emergency Services
Turlock, CA · Stanislaus County
The Operations Division comprises 42 sworn personnel with daily operational staffing of 13 across the department, managed 24/7/365 by three battalion chiefs under a Division Chief of Operations.
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Department careers page ↗Turlock Fire Department protects the city of Turlock, the second-largest city in Stanislaus County, located along the Highway 99 corridor in the San Joaquin Valley. The department covers a number of high-hazard occupancies in its response area, including commercial processing facilities, a hospital with an emergency department, the Stanislaus County Fair Grounds, and California State University Stanislaus, which has more than 9,000 students on a 228-acre campus.
The department traces its roots to 1908, when Turlock merchants pooled funds to buy the town's first fire pump after two major downtown fires. The Turlock Volunteer Fire District was formed in 1912 under first fire chief E.B. Osborn, and the department transitioned to a full-time paid fire chief in 1957. Today the department operates four fire stations and a fleet of eight apparatus, and maintains a small museum of historic apparatus and equipment from its own history.
The department is currently administered under a contract with the Modesto Fire Department, which fills the Turlock Fire Chief role and provides access to a regional fire administrative team. Turlock Fire also fields an eight-member Honor Guard, formed in 2013, that represents the department at academy graduations, promotions, station dedications, funerals, and other ceremonies.
Turlock Fire hires firefighters as the entry-level position in its professional firefighter series. Interested candidates start by visiting the City's Administrative Services office to pick up a job description and file an interest card, or by reviewing job descriptions on the city website.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent
- At least 18 years of age at time of final filing of application
- Pass the written entry-level test
- Pass a medical examination
- Possess a valid Class C California driver's license
- Pass an oral interview conducted by a selection committee
- Pass a thorough background investigation
- Possess a valid EMT certificate
- Possess a Firefighter I Certificate of Completion (CA Fire Service Training and Education System or CA State Fire Marshal) at time of application, or proof of academy completion
- Possess a Candidate Physical Agility Test (CPAT) card issued within 12 months of the application deadline
Hiring process
- Pick up job description and file an interest card with Administrative Services (156 S. Broadway, Suite 230)
- Pass the written entry-level test
- Pass an oral interview conducted by a selection committee
- Pass a thorough background investigation
- Pass a medical examination
Benefits
Fully paid health plan for the employee and dependents; term life insurance at 1.5x annual salary; long-term disability insurance; a liberal vacation plan; sick leave accrual of 12 hours per month worked; holiday time of eight 24-hour shifts annually; a uniform allowance of $1,100 annually; $100/month bilingual pay after initial probation; Associate's/Bachelor's degree pay after initial probation; and physical fitness incentive pay after initial probation. The City does not participate in Social Security; eligible employees are enrolled in CalPERS (3%@50 for classic members, 2.7%@57 Safety Plan for new members). The City also has a veteran's preference system for entrance examinations.
New recruits attend a 5-week Fire Academy covering the fundamentals of firefighting emergencies and daily firefighter life through manipulative and didactic training. The academy's mission is "to train all candidates to excel as a professional firefighter for the Turlock Fire Department," guided by a values statement emphasizing compassion, duty, honor, pride, public service, teamwork, and trustworthiness. Newly hired firefighters remain probationary for their first year, with formal testing benchmarks at 4, 7, and 10 months.
How do I start the process of becoming a Turlock firefighter?
Visit the City of Turlock's Administrative Services at 156 S. Broadway, Suite 230, to pick up a job description and fill out an interest card, or view job descriptions on the department's website.
What certifications do I need to apply?
Applicants need a valid EMT certificate and a Firefighter I Certificate of Completion (or California Firefighter I Certification from the State Fire Marshal) at the time of application, or proof of academy completion, plus a CPAT card issued within 12 months of the application deadline.
How long is the Fire Academy?
New recruits attend a 5-week academy covering the fundamentals of firefighting and daily firefighter life through both manipulative and didactic training.
Can I ride along with Turlock Fire Department?
Yes. Observers must be at least 16 years old, pass a background check, complete a Ride Along Request form with ID and liability release, and may participate once every six months.
How many stations and apparatus does Turlock Fire operate?
The department operates 4 fire stations and a fleet of 8 fire apparatus, maintained to a state of 100% readiness by an apparatus committee of line personnel and the Fire Chief.