County of San Bernardino, CA
Heavy Fire Equipment Operator (Fire District) Job at County of San Bernardino, C
County of San Bernardino, CA, San Bernardino, CA, US, 92409
Salary: $116,858.56 - $149,676.80 Annually
Location : Throughout San Bernardino County, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 25-47120-01
Department: Fire District
Opening Date: 10/04/2025
Closing Date: 10/17/2025 5:00 PM Pacific
The Job
The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District has an exciting
Opportunity for a Heavy Fire Equipment Operator
to oversee and operate the equipment used in our Wildland Dozer Program.
The , is recruiting for Heavy Fire Equipment Operator (HFEO) to oversee and operate a variety of heavy construction motorized equipment, such as bulldozers and motor graders used in wildland fire control, forest protection, conservation work and other projects. HFEOs are also responsible for building, maintaining and repairing fire roads and breaks for firefighting and rescue activities in emergencies such as fire, flood, earthquake, and other disasters. These duties are typically performed in back country wildland areas and involve regularly operating equipment under hazardous conditions during wildland fires. When not called to perform Equipment Operator duties, HFEOs may be assigned structure demolition, debris and vegetation removal, and participate in fuels reduction projects in addition to performing light maintenance of equipment used in fire suppression activities. Learn more about the Dozer Program and the Department by visiting the SBCFD Dozer
Essential duties include:
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Competitive salary range of $116,858.56 - $149,676.80 annually, depending on qualifications.
(Based on a 56 hour work week)
HEALTH BENEFITS
PAID TIME OFF
RETIREMENT
Wellness Program - Commuter Services - Employee Discounts
Review job-specific Benefits by following the links below:
Firefighters Unit MOU
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Background: Applicants will be fingerprinted and must pass a thorough background investigation which may include, but is not limited to, the following: fingerprinting for a Department of Justice criminal background check, DMV driving record check, military record check, reference checks, and review of prior employment history check. An applicant may be automatically disqualified for misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in the screening/selection/background check process. Job offers are made contingent upon passing a medical examination. Applicant must successfully pass a pre-employment drug test. Failure to meet medical standards may result in the withdrawal of employment offer.
License: A valid Commercial Class A Driver License is required to carry out the essential job-related functions of this position. Proof of automobile liability insurance must be maintained. Mileage reimbursement is available.
Work Conditions: Must be willing to work on weekends and holidays and to remain on duty 24 hours a day, as required.
Physical Requirements: Must be able to perform during high stress situations. Must be able to work in a variety of environmental conditions and be able to wear self-contained breathing apparatus, and do so with mobility and flexibility without jeopardizing the safety of self or other members. Employees hired after January 29, 2002 must abide by the non-smoking provision of the MOU.
Work Location/Travel: Applicants must be willing to work anywhere within San Bernardino County. Travel within and outside of the County may be required.
Dress Code: All new employees must adhere to the provisions of the County Fire and Special Districts Dress Code, which prohibits visible tattoos.
Sponsorship: Please note San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.
Minimum Requirements
Must meet ALL of the following requirements:
LICENSE:
Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Class A driver license.
--AND--CERTIFICATION:
Must possess and maintain a valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.
--AND--EXPERIENCE:
Must possess all of the following:
NOTE: Applicants must upload/attach copies of all required certifications and license to their application and/or a copy of the CA Incident Command Certification System Qualification Card (CICCS Red Card), verifying completion of training courses. If you have recently completed the courses and are awaiting certificates, you may substitute a recent letter from the training agency indicating the specific training courses & dates of completion.
Desired Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess:
Examination: There will be a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on the information provided in the Application and the Supplemental Questionnaire. You are encouraged to include detailed descriptions of your qualifying experience and skills, as only the most highly qualified applicants will be referred to the Department.
Application Procedure: To be considered for this excellent opportunity, please complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire by the stated deadline. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaire.
To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete and submit your application. Applicants will be automatically logged-out if they have not submitted the application and all required materials prior to the closing of this recruitment. Once your application has been successfully submitted you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note, if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application we have not received your application.
If you require technical assistance, please follow this link to or contact their Toll-Free Applicant Support line at (855) 524-5627. Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by the internet connection, computer or browser used to submit the application.
All communications regarding the selection process will be via email. Applicants are encouraged to check their e-mails frequently to obtain any correspondence associated with this recruitment. Please be sure the email provided on this application is always current; it is your responsibility to update your personal information. Update your Spam, Junk, Bulk and Firewall settings as needed to ensure that you receive all information pertaining to this recruitment.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): San Bernardino County is an and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants.
ADA Accommodation: If you have a disability and require accommodations in the testing process, submit the within one week of a recruitment filing deadline.
Veterans' Preference: Eligible veterans and their spouse or widow(er) who are not current County employees may be awarded additional Veterans' Preference points. For details and instructions on how to request these points, please refer to the within one week of the recruitment filing deadline.
For more important details,
Professional Firefighters
The County of San Bernardino offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of voluntary benefits. Programs and benefit amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked.
For a summary of benefits*, please click
A summary of benefits is provided below. Refer to the appropriate MOU, contact the County's Employee Benefits and Services Division at (909) 387-5787 or visit the Benefits website for more detailed information at
*Retirement benefits subject to change.
01
INSTRUCTIONS: The information on the Application and your responses to the following supplemental questions will be used in a competitive evaluation of qualifications. Accurate responses should be provided for each question, and all work experience listed on the Supplemental Questionnaire must also be listed and clearly demonstrated in the work experience section of your application under job duties in order to be appropriately evaluated.
(Do not refer to resume as it will NOT be reviewed. All questions should be answered appropriately.)
02
Do you possess a valid Commercial Class A driver license?
03
Do you possess a valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification?
04
Do you possess heavy equipment boss trainee with open task book, or are qualified as a Heavy Equipment Boss?
05
Have you successfully completed the Cal Fire, USFS Region 5 or equivalent Dozer Academy?
06
Indicate your years of paid experience as a Heavy Equipment Operator with a Fire Department:
07
Describe your experience operating and maintaining heavy construction motorized equipment, such as bulldozers and motor graders for the purpose of wildland fire control, forest protection, conservation, road maintenance and other related project work.Indicate the types of equipment used, the purpose(s) for which you used each, the fire agency you worked for and your dates of employment. If none, indicate "N/A."
08
For each license and/or certification that you indicated possession of above, please upload a copy and submit with your application.
09
Applicant Acknowledgement - Notification via email: As part of our efforts to increase efficiency and promote conservation of resources, human resources uses email to communicate with applicants. Therefore, all future communications regarding this recruitment, including applicant status and testing notifications, will be made via email. Each applicant needs their own email address. We strongly encourage you, as an applicant, to ensure that the email address you have provided us with your application is current, secure, confidential, and readily accessible to you. Adjust Spam and/or other filters so that our emails are accepted. Please carefully read any notices that we send you and follow any instructions provided in a timely manner. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails (i.e., for the non-delivery of our emails or if you fail to check your e-mail on a timely basis).
10
**ATTENTION GMAIL USERS**
We have become aware of an increase in Gmail's spam filter sensitivity. Due to this change, it is possible that emails coming from San Bernardino County Human Resources may be marked as spam and will not make it into your Gmail inbox.
For your convenience, the attached PDF document contains a step-by-step guide to create and apply filters within Gmail. To access the guide, Once downloaded, follow the instructions so that you will receive future emails from San Bernardino County Human Resources.
Note: If you apply the filters and still do not receive emails from San Bernardino County Human Resources you can check your (Neogov) account inbox. All notifications will appear there.
Applicant Acknowledgement - Application Complete: Thank you for taking the time to complete this application and supplemental questionnaire. Please be sure to review all information provided prior to submitting it as you cannot update or revise it once submitted. Your submitted application will be reviewed and evaluated as is. Please do not refer to a resume or other documentation in lieu of completing the employment history section or responding to the supplemental questions; they will not be reviewed or considered.
Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email confirmation will be sent to the email address listed on your application. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note: if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application.
Required Question
Location : Throughout San Bernardino County, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 25-47120-01
Department: Fire District
Opening Date: 10/04/2025
Closing Date: 10/17/2025 5:00 PM Pacific
The Job
The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District has an exciting
Opportunity for a Heavy Fire Equipment Operator
to oversee and operate the equipment used in our Wildland Dozer Program.
The , is recruiting for Heavy Fire Equipment Operator (HFEO) to oversee and operate a variety of heavy construction motorized equipment, such as bulldozers and motor graders used in wildland fire control, forest protection, conservation work and other projects. HFEOs are also responsible for building, maintaining and repairing fire roads and breaks for firefighting and rescue activities in emergencies such as fire, flood, earthquake, and other disasters. These duties are typically performed in back country wildland areas and involve regularly operating equipment under hazardous conditions during wildland fires. When not called to perform Equipment Operator duties, HFEOs may be assigned structure demolition, debris and vegetation removal, and participate in fuels reduction projects in addition to performing light maintenance of equipment used in fire suppression activities. Learn more about the Dozer Program and the Department by visiting the SBCFD Dozer
Essential duties include:
- Oversee and operate heavy construction bulldozers, motor-graders, heavy duty transports, frontend loaders, dump trucks, scrapers, fire engines and other types of equipment on steep, narrow, mountain roads on rough terrain under hazardous conditions; perform light maintenance on equipment used.
- Read maps to understand type of terrain to be worked on, fire roads and breaks; survey terrain, weather and soil conditions to determine the type of equipment to be used based on suppression/prevention requirements and adopt an effective course of action; report ground fire situation and equipment and crew locations to command personnel; recommend deployment of equipment.
- Perform light maintenance of hydraulic lines, lubing parts and replacing filters on heavy equipment in the field; tow auxiliary equipment; change equipment parts as needed and assist in loading and unloading heavy construction equipment.
- Locate and build fuel breaks in tactically advantageous areas; maintain roads that are regularly utilized for fire equipment access.
- Maintain cooperative relations with other organizations and agencies.
- Maintain records of construction activities and submits related reports.
- Participate in drills and provide training relative to wildland fires or other fire types that require specialized heavy construction equipment; assist with the training of new HFEOs and related personnel.
- Perform structure demolition work, debris and vegetation removal and participate in fuels reduction projects.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Competitive salary range of $116,858.56 - $149,676.80 annually, depending on qualifications.
(Based on a 56 hour work week)
HEALTH BENEFITS
PAID TIME OFF
RETIREMENT
- Medical & Dental: Family Coverage
- Vision: Employee Coverage
- Premium subsidies to offset health costs - Up to $874
- Flexible Spending Account: Pre-tax account for qualified healthcare expenses
- Up to 292 Paid Time Off (PTO) hours with cash-out option
- 154 Holiday Hours
- Generous pension
- Retirement reciprocity may be available!
- 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
- Retirement Medical Trust (RMT)
Wellness Program - Commuter Services - Employee Discounts
Review job-specific Benefits by following the links below:
Firefighters Unit MOU
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Background: Applicants will be fingerprinted and must pass a thorough background investigation which may include, but is not limited to, the following: fingerprinting for a Department of Justice criminal background check, DMV driving record check, military record check, reference checks, and review of prior employment history check. An applicant may be automatically disqualified for misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in the screening/selection/background check process. Job offers are made contingent upon passing a medical examination. Applicant must successfully pass a pre-employment drug test. Failure to meet medical standards may result in the withdrawal of employment offer.
License: A valid Commercial Class A Driver License is required to carry out the essential job-related functions of this position. Proof of automobile liability insurance must be maintained. Mileage reimbursement is available.
Work Conditions: Must be willing to work on weekends and holidays and to remain on duty 24 hours a day, as required.
Physical Requirements: Must be able to perform during high stress situations. Must be able to work in a variety of environmental conditions and be able to wear self-contained breathing apparatus, and do so with mobility and flexibility without jeopardizing the safety of self or other members. Employees hired after January 29, 2002 must abide by the non-smoking provision of the MOU.
Work Location/Travel: Applicants must be willing to work anywhere within San Bernardino County. Travel within and outside of the County may be required.
Dress Code: All new employees must adhere to the provisions of the County Fire and Special Districts Dress Code, which prohibits visible tattoos.
Sponsorship: Please note San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.
Minimum Requirements
Must meet ALL of the following requirements:
LICENSE:
Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Class A driver license.
--AND--CERTIFICATION:
Must possess and maintain a valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.
--AND--EXPERIENCE:
Must possess all of the following:
- Three (3) years of paid experience as a Heavy Equipment Operator with a Fire Department.
- Heavy equipment boss trainee with open task book or qualified as a Heavy Equipment Boss.
- Successful completion of Cal Fire, USFS Region 5 or equivalent Dozer Academy.
NOTE: Applicants must upload/attach copies of all required certifications and license to their application and/or a copy of the CA Incident Command Certification System Qualification Card (CICCS Red Card), verifying completion of training courses. If you have recently completed the courses and are awaiting certificates, you may substitute a recent letter from the training agency indicating the specific training courses & dates of completion.
Desired Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess:
- Experience in excess of five years operating and maintaining heavy construction bulldozers, motor graders, heavy duty transports, frontend loaders, backhoes, dump trucks, scrapers, fire engines and other types of equipment used for the purpose of wildland fire control, forest protection, conservation, road maintenance and other project work.
- The ability to read maps to understand type of terrain to be worked on, fire roads and breaks.
- Expertise in surveying terrain, weather and soil conditions to determine the type of equipment to be used based on suppression/prevention requirements.
- The ability to effectively lead a crew and maintain cooperative relations with other organizations and agencies.
Examination: There will be a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on the information provided in the Application and the Supplemental Questionnaire. You are encouraged to include detailed descriptions of your qualifying experience and skills, as only the most highly qualified applicants will be referred to the Department.
Application Procedure: To be considered for this excellent opportunity, please complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire by the stated deadline. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaire.
To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete and submit your application. Applicants will be automatically logged-out if they have not submitted the application and all required materials prior to the closing of this recruitment. Once your application has been successfully submitted you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note, if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application we have not received your application.
If you require technical assistance, please follow this link to or contact their Toll-Free Applicant Support line at (855) 524-5627. Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by the internet connection, computer or browser used to submit the application.
All communications regarding the selection process will be via email. Applicants are encouraged to check their e-mails frequently to obtain any correspondence associated with this recruitment. Please be sure the email provided on this application is always current; it is your responsibility to update your personal information. Update your Spam, Junk, Bulk and Firewall settings as needed to ensure that you receive all information pertaining to this recruitment.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): San Bernardino County is an and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants.
ADA Accommodation: If you have a disability and require accommodations in the testing process, submit the within one week of a recruitment filing deadline.
Veterans' Preference: Eligible veterans and their spouse or widow(er) who are not current County employees may be awarded additional Veterans' Preference points. For details and instructions on how to request these points, please refer to the within one week of the recruitment filing deadline.
For more important details,
Professional Firefighters
The County of San Bernardino offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of voluntary benefits. Programs and benefit amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked.
For a summary of benefits*, please click
A summary of benefits is provided below. Refer to the appropriate MOU, contact the County's Employee Benefits and Services Division at (909) 387-5787 or visit the Benefits website for more detailed information at
*Retirement benefits subject to change.
01
INSTRUCTIONS: The information on the Application and your responses to the following supplemental questions will be used in a competitive evaluation of qualifications. Accurate responses should be provided for each question, and all work experience listed on the Supplemental Questionnaire must also be listed and clearly demonstrated in the work experience section of your application under job duties in order to be appropriately evaluated.
(Do not refer to resume as it will NOT be reviewed. All questions should be answered appropriately.)
- I have read and understand the above statement.
02
Do you possess a valid Commercial Class A driver license?
- Yes
- No
03
Do you possess a valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification?
- Yes
- No
04
Do you possess heavy equipment boss trainee with open task book, or are qualified as a Heavy Equipment Boss?
- Yes
- No
05
Have you successfully completed the Cal Fire, USFS Region 5 or equivalent Dozer Academy?
- Yes
- No
06
Indicate your years of paid experience as a Heavy Equipment Operator with a Fire Department:
- 5 years or more
- 3 to 5 years
- Less than 3 years
- I do not have this experience
07
Describe your experience operating and maintaining heavy construction motorized equipment, such as bulldozers and motor graders for the purpose of wildland fire control, forest protection, conservation, road maintenance and other related project work.Indicate the types of equipment used, the purpose(s) for which you used each, the fire agency you worked for and your dates of employment. If none, indicate "N/A."
08
For each license and/or certification that you indicated possession of above, please upload a copy and submit with your application.
- I understand and have uploaded copies as requested.
09
Applicant Acknowledgement - Notification via email: As part of our efforts to increase efficiency and promote conservation of resources, human resources uses email to communicate with applicants. Therefore, all future communications regarding this recruitment, including applicant status and testing notifications, will be made via email. Each applicant needs their own email address. We strongly encourage you, as an applicant, to ensure that the email address you have provided us with your application is current, secure, confidential, and readily accessible to you. Adjust Spam and/or other filters so that our emails are accepted. Please carefully read any notices that we send you and follow any instructions provided in a timely manner. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails (i.e., for the non-delivery of our emails or if you fail to check your e-mail on a timely basis).
- I acknowledge that I have read, understood, and agree to the above.
10
**ATTENTION GMAIL USERS**
We have become aware of an increase in Gmail's spam filter sensitivity. Due to this change, it is possible that emails coming from San Bernardino County Human Resources may be marked as spam and will not make it into your Gmail inbox.
For your convenience, the attached PDF document contains a step-by-step guide to create and apply filters within Gmail. To access the guide, Once downloaded, follow the instructions so that you will receive future emails from San Bernardino County Human Resources.
Note: If you apply the filters and still do not receive emails from San Bernardino County Human Resources you can check your (Neogov) account inbox. All notifications will appear there.
- I understand
Applicant Acknowledgement - Application Complete: Thank you for taking the time to complete this application and supplemental questionnaire. Please be sure to review all information provided prior to submitting it as you cannot update or revise it once submitted. Your submitted application will be reviewed and evaluated as is. Please do not refer to a resume or other documentation in lieu of completing the employment history section or responding to the supplemental questions; they will not be reviewed or considered.
Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email confirmation will be sent to the email address listed on your application. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note: if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application.
- I acknowledge that I have reviewed my application and understand that I will not be able to update or revise any part of it once submitted.
Required Question