Firefighter Paramedic (Lateral and Entry Level)

THE CITIES OF EL CAJON, LA MESA, AND LEMON GROVE ARE SEEKING QUALIFIED LATERAL AND ENTRY-LEVEL FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS.

Lateral entry salary will be based on prior years of paid Firefighter Paramedic work experience. All three cities participate in the CalPERS retirement system and offer comprehensive benefits. Please refer to each city's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for details regarding benefits and eligibility for Educational Incentive Pay.

Out-of-state applicants are encouraged to apply! The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove welcome qualified candidates from across the country and provide a clear, well-organized onboarding process to support a smooth transition into the region. This area offers an exceptional quality of life, a strong and supportive fire service community, and the opportunity to gain broad operational experience within a cooperative agency structure.

Applicants must provide documentation demonstrating equivalency for all required certifications, qualifications, and physical ability standards as outlined in the posting.

THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS: The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove will conduct a joint application and examination process. Each agency will establish its own eligibility list, and candidates may be placed on multiple lists. All applicants must complete an online application and supplemental questionnaire through the City of La Mesa's application portal, which will be used for all three agencies.

Examination Components: CPAT Requirement. All candidates MUST possess a Cal-JAC Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certificate dated between: 04/25/2026 - 10/25/2026. Appraisal Interview & Paramedic Skills Assessment Scenario: Scheduled for 11/4/2026 or 11/5/2026

ABOUT HEARTLAND FIRE & RESCUE: The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove operate under a cooperative cost-sharing agreement known as HEARTLAND FIRE & RESCUE (HFR), serving a regional population of nearly 200,000. HFR responds to approximately 34,000 calls annually across eight stations and provides advanced life support services in conjunction with a contracted ambulance provider. The Cities maintain deployable OES engines and participate in the regional US&R task force.

Lateral Candidates: In addition to the requirements in the classification specifications, lateral candidates must have the following: Experience: One year of full time experience as a regular Paramedic Firefighter (non-probationary). Active, seasonal time will count towards experience. Reserve time is not qualifying.

The 2026-2027 County of San Diego EMS protocols will be used during the Appraisal Interview and Paramedic Skills Assessment. Candidates must successfully complete all components of the examination process to be placed on an eligibility list for employment consideration by any of the three agencies. Candidates who advance to the pre-employment stage may be required to undergo a comprehensive background investigation, which can include a polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, and pre-employment medical assessment.

Requirements: State of California Paramedic license at time of appointment, County of San Diego Paramedic Accreditation at time of appointment, California State Certified Firefighter I Academy completion or equivalent, valid Class C California Driver License, Cal-JAC CPAT certificate dated 04/25/2026-10/25/2026, one year full-time experience as Paramedic Firefighter (for lateral candidates)

Salary: City of El Cajon: $97,260.80 - $118,227.20; City of La Mesa: $101,308.48 - $135,757.44; City of Lemon Grove: $83,947.76 - $123,992.44

Application Deadline: 2026-10-25