Fire Prevention Specialist

Salary: $75,878.40 - $93,100.80 Annually
Location : County of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Regular - Full time
Job Number: 26366305
Department: Office of Emergency Services
Division:County Fire Community Risk Red
Opening Date: 06/05/2026
Closing Date: 6/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Summary
The County Fire Authority is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of
Fire Prevention Specialist I
The starting salary for this position will be based on the candidate's qualifications at time of appointment.
Interviews dates will take place the week of July 20, 2026 for qualified candidates. The job offer will take place the following week.
Future Salary Increase:

** June 2026 - 6.6% increase to base pay (3% Across-the-Board + 3.60% Market Adjustment)

** June 2027 - 6.5% increase to base pay (2.90% Across-the- Board + 3.60% Market Adjustment)
The Fire Prevention Specialist I position is an entry level class responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of the County Fire Code. Under immediate supervision, incumbents review and coordinate plans and specifications with respect to fire standards and fire protection features, and the performance of field inspections.

For more information on this job description, please visit the Fire Prevention Specialist I job classification page.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an effective communicator who is customer focused, exhibits knowledge worker traits and drives to excel through continuous learning. The ideal candidate also possesses ethical behavior, values and respects others, is supportive of change and demonstrates teamwork through collaboration.
Hiring Timeline & Dates

The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below.

• Job Offer and Background Process begins shortly after the interviews conclude.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.

Minimum Qualifications:

An associate's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency, in fire science building construction technology or a closely related field; AND,

1. Two (2) years of fire protection or prevention experience; OR,
2. Two (2) years of related work requiring the application and/or enforcement of fire, building, or construction codes; OR,
3. Two (2) years of experience examining building or fire sprinkler plans or inspecting buildings or fire sprinkler systems; OR,
4. Two (2) years of any combination of fire or building inspection work experience as stated above.

Note: Full-time, paid experience as described above may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis. Fire prevention experience is highly desirable.
Blind Applicant Screening

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate's personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age, and race. This process helps contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application Work History and/or supplemental questionnaire.
Condition of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego's pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.
Evaluation
Qualified applicants will be placed on a twelve (12) month employment list based on scores received during the evaluation of information provided on the employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm the information you provided is accurate and qualifying.

Note: Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.
As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran's Preference Policy

The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the for additional information.

Military Skills Translator

Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help! Please read the to access the tool.

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of: a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of which are infused throughout our operations. While also embracing a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Click here for more information on our Strategic Plan (sandiegocounty.gov).
Disaster Service Worker
Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.
The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.
Click here to see the Non-Management Benefits Summary (NMG-NCM)
01

Please be sure to answer the following questions in a thorough and complete manner, as your responses may be used to determine your overall score. Please note that if you are invited to a selection interview by a department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.Do you understand this information?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have an associate's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency, in fire science building construction technology or a closely related field?

• Yes
• No

03

How many years of experience do you have in fire protection or prevention?

• Less than one (1) year of experience
• One (1) year but less than two (2) years of experience
• Two (2) years, but less than three (3) years of experience
• Three (3) years, but less than four (4) years of experience
• Four (4) years, but less than five (5) years of experience
• Five (5) or more years of experience
• No Experience

04

How many years of experience do you have examining building or fire sprinkler plans or inspecting buildings or fire sprinkler systems?

• Less than one (1) year of experience
• One (1) year but less than two (2) years of experience
• Two (2) years, but less than three (3) years of experience
• Three (3) years, but less than four (4) years of experience
• Four (4) years, but less than five (5) years of experience
• Five (5) or more years of experience
• No Experience

05

How many years of experience do you have peforming related work that requires the application and/or enforcement of fire, building, or construction codes?

• Less than one (1) year of experience
• One (1) year but less than two (2) years of experience
• Two (2) years, but less than three (3) years of experience
• Three (3) years, but less than four (4) years of experience
• Four (4) years, but less than five (5) years of experience
• Five (5) or more years of experience
• No Experience

06

For experience described in questions 3 - 5 please indicate your duties, employer's name, your job title(s) and dates of employment. If not applicable, please indicate "N/A" in the section below.
07

Do you possess any specialized fire certification issued by the following agencies? In order for your certification(s) to be considered, you must attach a copy to your application.

• California State Fire Marshal
• International Code Council
• National Fire Protection Association
• Other
• I do not possess any certification

08

Please list your specialized fire certification(s) below. If you selected "Other" in the question above, also include the name of the certifying agency. In order for your certification(s) to be considered, you must attach a copy to your application. If this does not apply, please enter "n/a" in the space below.
09

Do you have experience interpreting and applying fire codes?

• Yes
• No

10

Describe your experience interpreting and applying fire codes, include: 1) Description of your duties 2) Specific codes 3) Region 4) Agency name 5) Job title 6) Dates of EmploymentIf you do not have this experience, enter "n/a" in the space below.
11

Do you have experience conducting inspections on the following systems? Select all that apply.

• Fire suppression systems
• Fire detection systems
• Defensible space inspections or weed abatement inspection
• Fire Sprinklers
• Fire Alarms
• None of the above

12

Describe your experience conducting fire inspections, include: 1) Description of your duties 2) Agency name 3) Job title 4) Dates of Employment. If you do not have this experience, enter "n/a" in the space below.
13

How did you first hear about this job opportunity?

• San Diego County website
• Government Jobs.com
• MANA de San Diego
• Southern California American Indian Resource Center
• Veteran Outreach
• County Employee Resource Groups
• Careers in Government
• Voice and Viewpoint
• LinkedIn
• Other

14

If you indicated "other" in the previous question, please indicate how you first heard about this job? If not applicable, please indicate "N/A" in the field below.
Required Question

Salary: $75,878.40 - $93,100.80 Annually
Location : County of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Regular - Full time
Job Number: 26366305
Department: Office of Emergency Services
Division:County Fire Community Risk Red
Opening Date: 06/05/2026
Closing Date: 6/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Summary
The County Fire Authority is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of
Fire Prevention Specialist I
The starting salary for this position will be based on the candidate's qualifications at time of appointment.
Interviews dates will take place the week of July 20, 2026 for qualified candidates. The job offer will take place the following week.
Future Salary Increase:

** June 2026 - 6.6% increase to base pay (3% Across-the-Board + 3.60% Market Adjustment)

** June 2027 - 6.5% increase to base pay (2.90% Across-the- Board + 3.60% Market Adjustment)
The Fire Prevention Specialist I position is an entry level class responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of the County Fire Code. Under immediate supervision, incumbents review and coordinate plans and specifications with respect to fire standards and fire protection features, and the performance of field inspections.

For more information on this job description, please visit the Fire Prevention Specialist I job classification page.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an effective communicator who is customer focused, exhibits knowledge worker traits and drives to excel through continuous learning. The ideal candidate also possesses ethical behavior, values and respects others, is supportive of change and demonstrates teamwork through collaboration.
Hiring Timeline & Dates

The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below.

• Job Offer and Background Process begins shortly after the interviews conclude.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.

Minimum Qualifications:

An associate's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency, in fire science building construction technology or a closely related field; AND,

1. Two (2) years of fire protection or prevention experience; OR,
2. Two (2) years of related work requiring the application and/or enforcement of fire, building, or construction codes; OR,
3. Two (2) years of experience examining building or fire sprinkler plans or inspecting buildings or fire sprinkler systems; OR,
4. Two (2) years of any combination of fire or building inspection work experience as stated above.

Note: Full-time, paid experience as described above may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis. Fire prevention experience is highly desirable.
Blind Applicant Screening

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate's personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age, and race. This process helps contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application Work History and/or supplemental questionnaire.
Condition of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego's pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.
Evaluation
Qualified applicants will be placed on a twelve (12) month employment list based on scores received during the evaluation of information provided on the employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm the information you provided is accurate and qualifying.

Note: Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.
As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran's Preference Policy

The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the for additional information.

Military Skills Translator

Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help! Please read the to access the tool.

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of: a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of which are infused throughout our operations. While also embracing a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Click here for more information on our Strategic Plan (sandiegocounty.gov).
Disaster Service Worker
Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.
The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.
Click here to see the Non-Management Benefits Summary (NMG-NCM)
01

Please be sure to answer the following questions in a thorough and complete manner, as your responses may be used to determine your overall score. Please note that if you are invited to a selection interview by a department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.Do you understand this information?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have an associate's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency, in fire science building construction technology or a closely related field?

• Yes
• No

03

How many years of experience do you have in fire protection or prevention?

• Less than one (1) year of experience
• One (1) year but less than two (2) years of experience
• Two (2) years, but less than three (3) years of experience
• Three (3) years, but less than four (4) years of experience
• Four (4) years, but less than five (5) years of experience
• Five (5) or more years of experience
• No Experience

04

How many years of experience do you have examining building or fire sprinkler plans or inspecting buildings or fire sprinkler systems?

• Less than one (1) year of experience
• One (1) year but less than two (2) years of experience
• Two (2) years, but less than three (3) years of experience
• Three (3) years, but less than four (4) years of experience
• Four (4) years, but less than five (5) years of experience
• Five (5) or more years of experience
• No Experience

05

How many years of experience do you have peforming related work that requires the application and/or enforcement of fire, building, or construction codes?

• Less than one (1) year of experience
• One (1) year but less than two (2) years of experience
• Two (2) years, but less than three (3) years of experience
• Three (3) years, but less than four (4) years of experience
• Four (4) years, but less than five (5) years of experience
• Five (5) or more years of experience
• No Experience

06

For experience described in questions 3 - 5 please indicate your duties, employer's name, your job title(s) and dates of employment. If not applicable, please indicate "N/A" in the section below.
07

Do you possess any specialized fire certification issued by the following agencies? In order for your certification(s) to be considered, you must attach a copy to your application.

• California State Fire Marshal
• International Code Council
• National Fire Protection Association
• Other
• I do not possess any certification

08

Please list your specialized fire certification(s) below. If you selected "Other" in the question above, also include the name of the certifying agency. In order for your certification(s) to be considered, you must attach a copy to your application. If this does not apply, please enter "n/a" in the space below.
09

Do you have experience interpreting and applying fire codes?

• Yes
• No

10

Describe your experience interpreting and applying fire codes, include: 1) Description of your duties 2) Specific codes 3) Region 4) Agency name 5) Job title 6) Dates of EmploymentIf you do not have this experience, enter "n/a" in the space below.
11

Do you have experience conducting inspections on the following systems? Select all that apply.

• Fire suppression systems
• Fire detection systems
• Defensible space inspections or weed abatement inspection
• Fire Sprinklers
• Fire Alarms
• None of the above

12

Describe your experience conducting fire inspections, include: 1) Description of your duties 2) Agency name 3) Job title 4) Dates of Employment. If you do not have this experience, enter "n/a" in the space below.
13

How did you first hear about this job opportunity?

• San Diego County website
• Government Jobs.com
• MANA de San Diego
• Southern California American Indian Resource Center
• Veteran Outreach
• County Employee Resource Groups
• Careers in Government
• Voice and Viewpoint
• LinkedIn
• Other

14

If you indicated "other" in the previous question, please indicate how you first heard about this job? If not applicable, please indicate "N/A" in the field below.
Required Question

• 

• Government Careers

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