Helitack Crew Salary Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Under direction, to supervise the work of an engine company(s) and hand crews, with other Fire Captains share in the management of a fire station including the maintenance of emergency apparatus and equipment, or to perform full-time duties in one of the following specialty assignments: (1) peace officer/fire prevention duties within a unit, (2) serve as a dispatcher, (3) serve as an assistant air attack program coordinator, (4) serve as a helitack captain, (5) supervise crews in conservation camps and fire centers and operate crew-carrying vehicles and fire apparatus, (6) serve as an instructor at the Fire Academy and other training assignments, or (7) supervise fuels reduction crews, and to do other related work.
Plans and assigns work, gives instructions, maintains discipline, and makes decisions relating to the supervision of engine companies and hand crews engaged in fighting wildland, structural, or other fires, flood control, hazardous materials incidents, emergency responses, vehicle extrication incidents, and other emergency activities, may occasionally perform minor maintenance on buildings and fire stations/camps, supervises projects related to resource management, fuels reduction projects using prescribed fire and equipment, trains a company to fight fire and operate tools, supervises and performs the construction and maintenance of fire defense improvements, inspects, supervises the use of, and performs preventive and minor maintenance on assigned equipment, transports a crew over mountainous roads, operates fire apparatus, power tools (e.g., chain saws), and heavy equipment during emergency incidents and nonemergency project work, assists in the preparation and maintenance of a fire prevention plan, applies and enforces fire prevention laws, conducts fire prevention education programs, installs and supervises exhibits and displays, issues citations and makes investigations and reports on the cause and origin of fires, collects and preserves evidence, makes inspections for enforcement of Titles 19 and 25 of the California Administrative Code, performs dispatching of resources, performs as fire information officer, supervises the air attack base crew, serves as controller in airport operations, leads a helitack crew, conducts classroom and field training including the preparation of lesson plans and the evaluation of student performance, evaluates work of assigned employees, reads and uses maps, may assist others in performing accounting, budgeting, personnel, and material management tasks, keeps records, writes and submits reports as required, and does other related work.
N ote: Fuels Reduction Crews positions exist within the units. Duties include: implementation of approved prescribed fire and fuels reductions project utilizing assigned personnel, maintain fuel reduction records, review and assessment of burn plan for implementation for units, administer orientation and training to assigned personnel.
Hiring Process
Applications will be processed in rounds with the following cut-off dates:

• March 6, 2026
• May 8, 2026
• July 8, 2026
• September 8, 2026

Applications submitted after the cut-off date will be processed in the next group and considered in the following round.
This is a re-advertisement. If you already submitted a job application for job codes JC-491865 and/or JC-491867, you do not need to submit a new application and are still being considered for vacancies.
Working Conditions
Demonstrates good j udgment in emergency situations, willingness to live and work in isolated areas away from population centers and to work on weekends/holidays, willingness to remain on duty 24 hrs a day as required, emotional stability, demonstrated leadership ability, high standards of morals and speech, satisfactory record as a law-abiding citizen, sympathetic understanding of inmate rehab. programs, distant visual acuity(Snellen) of not less than 20/100 without corrective lenses in each eye, separately corrected to not less than 20/40 in one eye with corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity(Snellen) of at least 20/40 in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, color vision adequate to successfully perform the job as measured by the Ishihara Pseudo-Chromatic Plate Test, or for persons failing the Ishihara, the Farnsworth D-15 Arrangement Test, normal hearing, normal use of both hands and both feet, physical strength/agility, and no more than a mild reaction to poison oak.
Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• FIRE CAPTAIN

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-491865
Position #(s):
542-000-1095-VAR
Working Title:
Fire Captain
Classification:
FIRE CAPTAIN $5,934.00 - $7,694.00 A
$6,513.00 - $8,483.00 B
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
Multiple
Work Location:
United States
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time
Facility:
Statewide
Department Information The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is California's fire department and resource management agency. The organization is comprised of nearly 12,000 permanent and seasonal employees. The mission of the Department is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property and resources of California.
When you join CAL FIRE, you join a family of employees that function as a team. You will build trust and friendship with your co-workers, as together you respond to emergencies and challenging situations. CAL FIRE provides employees with a variety of career choices and opportunities. We hope that you will consider a rewarding and challenging career with CAL FIRE!
Department Website: www.fire.ca.gov
Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) Psychological Evaluation clearance prior to being hired.

- For those positions which require peace officer status, you must obtain and maintain current peace officer requirements as a condition of employment.
- Possession of a valid driver's license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles is a condition of continued employment.
- Applicants must pass medical clearances under the Respiratory Protection Program.
- The Bargaining Unit 8 Memorandum of Understanding regarding Voluntary In-Class Reassignment Policy (Inter-Unit) (Section 9.2) will be followed. Reassignments may require a two-year commitment.
TAU applicants are encouraged to apply.
What is TAU? TAU appointments to this classification are made under temporary authorization. In accordance with the California State Constitution, no person may serve in one or more positions under a temporary appointment longer than 9 months in 12 consecutive months. Therefore, all time served in temporary appointments during the 12 consecutive month period will count towards this 9 month maximum. An employee gains no status or rights as a result of the TAU appointment and an employee who has had only a TAU appointment has no reinstatement eligibility. Persons who do not possess the minimum qualifications for the classification are ineligible for appointment as a TAU.
If you are offered and accept a TAU appointment, you will be required to take the next exam administered for this classification. If you do not apply to take the exam, score too low to be in a reachable rank, OR if you fail the test, your TAU appointment will be terminated within 48 hours of the exam results being released.
FELONY DISCLOSURE
Pursuant to California Penal Code 4571, any individual interested in seeking employment that requires working with inmates at a conservation camp must disclose of any prior felony status up front, so CALFIRE/CDCR can provide informed consent to a former felon to be on the conservation camp/prison grounds.
Any person/employee who has been convicted of a felony, and has not received written consent, is committing a felony.
FELONY DISQUALIFICATION
Existing law provides that persons convicted of a felony are disqualified from employment as peace officers. Such persons are not eligible to compete for, or be appointed to, positions in this class. This felony disqualification applies only to those positions designated as peace officers within this class.
PREA INFORMATION
Positions located at a Camp or requiring the supervision of inmates requires compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Compliance is determined by completing a Live Scan prior to appointment and during the course of employment to verify the standards of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 115 Prison Rape Elimination Act National Standards are met.
CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT
Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031 (a), in order to be a peace officer, a person must be either a U.S. Citizen or be a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for U.S. Citizenship. Any permanent resident alien who is employed as a peace officer shall be disqualified from holding that position if his/her application for citizenship is denied.
Application Instructions
Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: Until Filled
Who May Apply
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s). Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
CAL FIRE Northern Region Hiring
Attn: FC Hiring
135 Ridgway Avenue
Santa Rosa , CA 95401
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
CAL FIRE Northern Region Hiring
FC Hiring
135 Ridgway Avenue
Santa Rosa , CA 95401
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Other - Authorization to Release Information Form (PO-299). This form may be found at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/-/media/D817B8E27D8049C3BC35297686467FB9
• Other - Current FC Work Location Form. This form may be found at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/-/media/57033D7C11CC4F429D91C311252DDC82
• Other - Copy of the front and back of your valid Driver's License of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.
Benefits
This classification is eligible for the following pay:
$5934 - $7694 Range A Base Salary (paid every month)
$6513 - $8483 Range B Base Salary (paid every month)
$2016 - $2615 Range A Extended Duty Week Compensation (paid every 4 weeks)
$2213 - $2883 Range B Extended Duty Week Compensation (paid every 4 weeks)
$97,416 - $126,323 Annual Compensation Range A
$106,925 - $139,275 Annual Compensation Range B
In addition to the above pay items, employees are eligible for medical benefits (health, dental, vision) and may be eligible for other pay differentials.
Contact Information
The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Department Website: www.fire.ca.gov
Hiring Unit Contact:
FC Hotline
(707) 576-2963
Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:
Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator
(916) 767-8