Heavy Fire Equipment Operator (Fire District)

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 San Bernardino County Fire Protection District , 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 b uilding, 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 i n 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 website .

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.

For more detailed information, refer to the Heavy Fire Equipment Operator job description.

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)

DCAP Account - County Paid Life Insurance - 529 Savings Plan

Wellness Program - Commuter Services - Employee Discounts

Review job-specific Benefits by following the links below:

Firefighters Unit MOU

Summary of Traditional Benefits


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.

Selection Process

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 review the Government Jobs online application guide 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 Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) 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 Special Testing Accommodations Request Form (PDF) 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 Veterans' Preference Information (PDF) within one week of the recruitment filing deadline.

For more important details, review the Applicant Information and County Employment Process .

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 here .

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 hr.sbcounty.gov/employee-benefits/ .

* Retirement benefits subject to change.

Closing Date/Time: 10/17/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• San Bernardino County

• 9093878304

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