Probationary Firefighter

Intent

The Lathrop Manteca Fire District is recruiting to fill one current vacancy and establish an eligibility list from which current and future vacancies may be filled during the next 12 months. The eligibility list may be extended for up to one year by the Fire District Board. Our District is looking for quality individuals to participate in a customer service employee empowered organization. Bring your good work ethic and positive teamwork to make a contribution to our District.

Who We Are

Our members strive to provide professional progressive public safety service delivered with sincerity dignity and respect to the growing and diverse needs of our community. We are a District that is preparing for the future developing skilled leaders training for our communitys needs and serving together in solidarity.

What We Do

The Lathrop Manteca Fire Protection District is charged with the preservation of life and property within the City of Lathrop and the rural communities surrounding both Lathrop and the City of Manteca. The dedicated men and women of the Lathrop Manteca Fire Protection District deliver service to the community out of five fire stations and serve approximately 43000 residents within the 2023 our members responded to over 4200 calls for service. The District values our members and embraces a servant leadership style of management. Our personnel serve professionally with both passion and honor. The District prides itself on having highly trained firefighters that are provided with top notch equipment to effectively and efficiently respond to fires rescues medical emergencies dive responses hazardous materials incidents and natural disasters. We have three special operations teams which include Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Dive Rescue and Recovery and Hazardous Materials. The District is an approved Advanced Life Support (ALS) provider within San Joaquin County. The District commenced providing ALS service to our constituents in January of 2025 so we are putting an emphasis on hiring paramedics to help with our growing needs of the program.

The Firefighter Position:

The Firefighter is an entry-level position within a modern fire district. The role is increasingly complex and requires a progressive and motivated individual. The ability to maintain cooperative relations with fellow employees supervisors and the public is highly desired. The rigors of the essential duties and the ever-present danger require an individual to be in top physical condition. The Firefighter will respond to fire alarms emergency medical and other emergency calls to protect life and property; participate in fire prevention fire inspection and public education/awareness programs; assist in maintenance repair and general upkeep of stations and grounds.

Examples of Essential Duties:

• Under direction respond to alarms with a fire company; connect and lay hose lines; enter burning areas of buildings with hose lines; operates nozzles and directs a stream of water onto fire; carry and operate fire extinguishers; raise lower and climb ladders; make forcible entry into buildings as necessary.
• Respond to emergency calls related to fires emergency medical hazardous materials vehicle accidents and other incidents.
• Operates fire district equipment as directed.
• Maintain fire apparatus and equipment in good working order; perform equipment test and checks.
• Perform company inspection of designated commercial structures to discover and eliminate fire hazards.
• Maintain fire stations grounds and hydrants.
• Participate in fire service and related training exercises and classes.
• Study fire department manuals fire hazards and fire-fighting techniques; attend drills and staff training activities.
• Educate the public in fire prevention safety awareness and CPR techniques; make presentations to elementary students in Fire Awareness Programs.
• Assist in the investigation and cause of fires.
• Performs any and all other tasks properly assigned by their superior.

*Note: The omission of specific statement of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar related or a logical assignment.

Demonstrated Knowledge of:

• The principles practices and procedures of modern firefighting and emergency systems that may be utilized for the protection of lives and property;
• Fire suppression and first responder methods practices and techniques;
• Emergency medical service techniques CPR basic life support rescue and resuscitation equipment and practices;
• The operation and maintenance of various types of fire apparatus equipment tools devices and facilities used by the District; and
• The geographic layout of the District names of streets and numbers water main and hydrant locations target hazards and the best routes of travel.

• Applying rescue operations methods and techniques;
• Using and manipulating a variety of hand and power tools medical equipment and instruments and apparatus;
• Basic keyboarding; and
• Operating a personal computer and/or tablet and appropriate worked-related applications such as word processing calendar and e-mail systems etc.

Demonstrated Ability to:

• Possess and have the ability to maintain an appropriate California Drivers License and maintain a satisfactory driving record to maintain insurability under the Districts insurance policy;
• Operate apparatus and equipment used in modern firefighting activities in accordance with departmental policies and California State Law;
• Learn local streets routes of travel and locations of public buildings;
• Learn geography including location of hydrants and major fire hazards of District;
• Obtain and maintain EMT certification from the State of California and the San Joaquin County EMS Agency;
• Prepare complete and concise reports;
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with employees supervisors and the public;
• Assume personal responsibility for completing shared work tasks in cooperation with other members of a team living in a dormitory-like setting;
• Work in confined spaces such as attic crawl spaces;
• Travel to different sites and work locations and work protracted and irregular hours;
• Represent the District effectively and professionally in contacts with representatives of other agencies and the public; and
• Conduct public education training for the general public.

Minimum Qualifications:

AT TIME OF APPLICATION:

• 18 Years of Age or Older
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Valid California Class C Drivers License
• Currently on the FCTC List with a written score of at minimum 70%
• Current California EMT certification or National Registry EMT certification at the time of application (California Paramedic license or National Registry Paramedic certification accepted).

• Applicants must be certified as an EMT in California or licensed as a Paramedic in California at time of appointment
• NOTE: We are avidly looking to recruit licensed paramedics to fill our one (1) vacancy and to be on the eligibility list. Paramedics may receive preference.

• California Office of the State Fire Marshal Firefighter 1 Certificate or completion of an accredited fire academy through an Accredited Regional Training Program (ARTP) or Accredited Local Academy (ALA).
• Must possess a valid California Physical Ability Test (CPAT) valid from 02/01/2025 to present.

AFTER CONDITIONAL OFFER / DURING PROBATIONARY PERIOD:

• Be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Successful completion of Background Investigation
• Pass an Extensive Pre-Employment Medical Examination
  • Including but not limited to: Drug Test & TB Test
• Must be able to obtain a Firefighter Endorsement from the CA DMV within 3 months of the date of hire.

*Note: Licensed paramedics will need to obtain San Joaquin County accreditation prior to practicing ALS.

Desired Education and Experience:

ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATIONS / LICENSES:

Paramedic License (Highly Desired) Firefighter II Auto Extrication Firefighter Survival RIC Operations HazMat FRO Rescue Systems I Confined Space Operations Driver Operator 1A and/or Driver Operator 1B California Paramedic License

Application Process:

The information contained herein is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract or offer.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Candidates must apply online through Government Jobs. The application must be completed and submitted by Sunday February 15 2026 at 11:59 P.M.

Testing and Selection Process with Tentative Timelines:

Testing for this position may include the following:

• Application Review and Screening

Tentative Dates: February 16 2026 through February 20 2026

• Written Examination

• Oral Panel Interview

Tentative Dates: March 3 2026 and March 4 2026

• Chiefs Interview

The Fire Chief will make a final appointment.

Tentative Dates: March 11 2026 and March 12 2026

*Final Score is based on the cumulative total of the written examination oral interview and Chiefs interview scores.

• Conditional Offer

Tentative Date: March 16 2026

• Background Investigation - Tentative Dates: March 16 2026 through April 17 2026
• Pre-Employment Physical Examination to include Drug Screening-Tentative Dates: March 16 2026 through April 17 2026

• Official Offer of Employment

Tentative Date: April 20 2026

Probationary Period:

The new employee shall be required to be on probation for a total of twelve (12) months with a possibility of up to a six (6) month extension if needed. The final determination of permanent status shall be determined upon successful completion of this period.

Compensation and Benefits:

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act should special accommodations be necessary at any stage of the selection process please contact the HR Administrator via e-mail at .Members of the Bargaining Unit are members of the International Association of Firefighters andCalifornia Professional Firefighters LOCAL 4317.

Lathrop-Manteca Fire Protection District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and E-Verify Participant