Lateral Firefighter Jobs in California
21 lateral postings open at 14 departments in California.
These are openings departments have marked for experienced, certified firefighters transferring from another agency.
FireJobs lists a posting here when the department calls it lateral in the title or the job description. Members see the salary, the closing date and the direct application link on every one.
Departments hiring laterals in California
- Montclair Fire Department · Montclair, CA · 3 lateral openings
- North Central Fire Protection District · Kerman, CA · 3 lateral openings
- City of Rocklin Fire Department · Rocklin, CA · 2 lateral openings
- Pala Fire Department · Pala, CA · 2 lateral openings
- Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority · Sonoma, CA · 2 lateral openings
- Fullerton Fire Department · Fullerton, CA · 1 lateral opening
- Novato Fire Protection District · Novato, CA · 1 lateral opening
- Pechanga Fire Department · Temecula, CA · 1 lateral opening
- Piedmont Fire Department · Piedmont, CA · 1 lateral opening
- San Rafael Fire Department · San Rafael, CA · 1 lateral opening
- Scotts Valley Fire Protection District · Scotts Valley, CA · 1 lateral opening
- Vacaville Fire Department · Vacaville, CA · 1 lateral opening
- Ventura City Fire Department · Ventura, CA · 1 lateral opening
- Watsonville Fire Department · Freedom, CA · 1 lateral opening
Lateral hiring, explained
- What is a lateral firefighter job?
- A lateral position is an opening a department reserves for firefighters already certified and working at another department. Most lateral postings ask for Firefighter I or II certification, an EMT or paramedic license, and one to three years of full-time experience. Laterals usually skip the full recruit academy for a shorter orientation and often start above the entry pay step.
- How many lateral firefighter jobs are open in California?
- 21 lateral postings are open right now across 14 California fire departments on FireJobs. Members see the salary, closing date and application link for each.
- Do lateral firefighters have to go through the academy again?
- Usually not the full academy. Most departments run a shorter lateral academy or orientation covering their own procedures, equipment and district, then a probation period. Each posting states its own requirements; read it before applying.
- Does lateral experience count toward pay?
- Often yes. Many departments place laterals at a pay step that reflects their years of service rather than at the entry step, and some credit prior service toward vacation accrual. The posting or the department's pay schedule is the source for the exact figure.