Fire Captain, Sacramento County Airport Fire

This is a continuous filing exam. Next filing cut-offs are at 5:00 pm on: 9/2/26, 9/16/26 (final).

About the Role

Under direction, the Fire Captain supervises, assigns, reviews, and participates in the work of staff responsible for preventing, controlling, and extinguishing fires; rescuing persons endangered by aircraft crash and fire or structural fire; responding to and providing assistance for medical aid calls, vehicle accidents, and Hazmat incidents. While providing supervision to a single crew, incumbents ensure work quality and adherence to established policies and procedures, and perform the more technical and complex tasks relative to the assigned area of responsibility.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Principles and practices of supervision, discipline, leadership, mentoring, and training
• Team dynamics and team building
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of assigned programs and functions
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and other specialized applications related to area of assignment
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Principles, practices, and procedures of aircraft rescue and firefighting operations
• Principles of structural, wildland, and aircraft firefighting
• Training standards necessary to comply with all federal, state, and local aircraft rescue and firefighting requirements
• Operation and maintenance of equipment and vehicles used in firefighting activities
• Concepts, components, and procedures of the Incident Command System
• Hazardous materials incident response and management
• Fire investigation procedures and techniques
• Fire and life safety codes
• Basic life support principles and techniques
• Advanced Life Support (ALS) techniques including but not limited to IV therapy, cardiac monitoring, advanced airway control, and a variety of medication therapies, as a Paramedic (when assigned to a paramedic position)
• Standing orders provided by off-line medical director (when assigned to a paramedic position)
• Medical terminology (when assigned to a paramedic position)

Responsibilities

• Select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff
• Plan, organize, and provide direction at an emergency scene
• Plan, coordinate, assign, and review the work of subordinate staff
• Investigate and resolve disciplinary issues
• Develop and maintain cooperative, effective working relationships with others
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing
• Interpret and apply applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations
• Collect and compile a variety of data and information
• Direct subordinates in firefighting or other emergency situations
• Evaluate an aircraft fire and rescue situation and determine appropriate action
• Respond to vehicle accidents and medical aid calls
• Operate aircraft firefighting and rescue equipment
• Conduct and participate in SCAF training
• Enforce federal, state, and local fire protection and prevention codes
• Conduct emergency drills
• Respond to fires and alarms and effectively perform fire suppression and rescue work
• Conduct preliminary fact-finding inspections and investigations of fire scenes, including evidence gathering
• Prepare and maintain accurate and complete records
• Prepare clear and concise reports
• Operate communication equipment
• Work safely under hazardous conditions
• Operate and maintain fire testing equipment, e.g., foam testing, defibrillators, air monitoring meters, radiological detectors, etc.
• Review and interpret maps, diagrams, and mechanical drawings
• Deal courteously and effectively with the general public
• Perform ALS procedures (when assigned to a paramedic position)
• Maintain accurate records of medical treatments, including equipment and medication use (when assigned to a paramedic position)
• Understand and apply medical directives (when assigned to a paramedic position)

Requirements

• Possession of a current and valid Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic certificate/license issued by either the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians or the California State Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA)
• Four years of full-time paid experience performing firefighting duties
• Possession of a valid California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Driver Operator 1A and 1B Certificate
• Either:
  • Possession of a valid California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Fire Officer Certificate, Company Officer Certificate, or equivalent
  • Completion of current Company Officer curriculum courses as outlined by California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM)
• Note: Possession of valid equivalent certification(s) from an outside entity, including the Department of Defense, the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC), or National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) may substitute for Driver Operator and/or Company Officer curriculum or Certification requirements
• Note: A valid class A or B driver’s license may substitute for the firefighter endorsement

General Qualifications

• Criminal History and Background Checks: The County may access criminal history information on candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of appointment. The County shall not consider for employment any candidate who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to or impacts the candidate's ability to perform the job duties unless mitigating circumstances exist.
• License Requirement: A valid California Driver License, Class C or higher with firefighter endorsement, shall be required at the time of appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain the appropriate California Driver License and endorsement may constitute cause for personnel action. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Incumbents must acquire and maintain an Air Operations Area driver permit issued by the Department of Airports within two (2) weeks of appointment.
• Certificate Requirement: Incumbents must acquire and maintain a valid EMT certificate issued by the California State Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) within one year from the date of appointment. Incumbents must acquire and maintain accreditation as an EMT by the County of Sacramento within 90 days of state licensure.
• Paramedic License: Some positions may require a valid EMT-Paramedic license issued by the California State Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA). Incumbents in these positions must acquire and maintain accreditation as an EMT-Paramedic by the County of Sacramento within 90 days of appointment.
• Training Requirements: Incumbents must complete an initial 40-hour Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting training program in accordance with FAR Part 139 within 6 months of appointment and complete annual training as a condition of continued employment.
• Uniform Requirement: Incumbents are required to wear a designated uniform and personal protective equipment.
• Special Access: Incumbents must acquire and maintain an airport security badge allowing access to secure County airport locations.

Physical Requirements

• Physically perform the duties of this class while wearing personal protective equipment
• Demonstrate physical endurance, agility, strength, and stamina in the performance of hazardous tasks under emergency conditions

Working Conditions

• Work various shifts, overtime, weekends, holidays, non-routine hours, and be subject to “on-call” status 24 hours a day
• Work outside in all types of climatic conditions including inclement and very hot weather
• Work at various locations within Sacramento County

Probationary Period

The probationary period for this classification is six (6) months.