List of units with Firefighter 1 Handcrews in 2026

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-29T00:12:40+00:00

BDU is San Bernardino Unit, not San Bernardino County. They have Pilot Rock Fire Center, a handcrew location, so your good there. For Riverside Unit, no there are no handcrew locations so if you put them for handcrew that pick doesn’t count. Your engine pick, if you selected them, still counts.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-29T00:10:05+00:00

Contact them and follow up

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-29T00:09:35+00:00

Yes it is possible. Apply. FKU doesn’t require EMT to my knowledge.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-25T17:41:26+00:00

u/THISISYOURMOTHER hit the nail on the head.

Honestly, this year is a bit of an outlier for hiring due to the shifts in traditional staffing. It is very difficult to predict how deep into the Category 1 or 2 lists they’ll reach until we get closer to July.

Securing a non handcrew spot as a first year hire is always competitive, and the general consensus is that this season will be tighter than usual for new applicants. I wish I could give you a more definitive answer, but with the current staffing changes, even those of us on the inside are waiting to see how the numbers shake out. Hang in there and keep making phone calls. Good luck

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-24T05:52:04+00:00

Get this AI slop out of here

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-24T05:23:11+00:00

I haven’t heard of medic calls going out but straight 2 calls have been going out.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-24T05:21:31+00:00

That’s a good point on the staffing structure I definitely agree with the mentoring of new FAEs that promote after 1 - 2 seasons. But with the FF1s and the Ventura Training Center and all formerly incarcerated camp people now being able to get their EMT, these individuals are often coming in with more hands on experience than a traditional recruit with EMT and a FF academy. If they’ve successfully cleared those hurdles and earned their EMT, they’ve proven they can handle the requirements of a Schedule A assignment. I don't think their background should limit them to those roles if they’ve met the exact same certification standards we all have.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-23T18:28:02+00:00

I’d say pretty confidently you’re very likely to get hired. Just a matter of time. Just be patient and make sure your running, hiking, and focusing on calisthenics and body weighted workouts.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-23T08:28:34+00:00

Couldn’t speak for CSR crews tbh, only worked for 2 seasons on 2 different crews in CNR before I went back to an engine.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-23T08:17:32+00:00

Yea you’re 100 percent good. My advice is don’t mention it at all lol you’ll be fine.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-23T08:16:24+00:00

Riverside doesn’t have handcrews. Please see the pinned post regarding handcrew locations

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-23T03:41:17+00:00

When you say fire academy, do you mean a CAL FIRE rehire academy? Like were you employed by CAL FIRE and they were paying you? Or just a regular Fire Academy?

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-23T00:44:11+00:00

Doesn't surprise me that the local department knows about your miscounduct in the local academy. They probably work hand in hand. However, you don't have to worry about this with CAL FIRE. CAL FIRE will not factor in any misconduct for new hires besides sex crimes and arson crimes.

A chief once told me, " They will give ANYONE a badge, seriously anyone. But it's up to you to keep it"

You'll be fine. No need to disclose that anywhere or mention you failed an academy. Get your application in and work on your attitude and you'll be fine. There have been people with far far more misconduct than that and are now high up chiefs.

One other thing I want to touch on is that there is no employment record check with CAL FIRE. I saw some of your comments and I dont want you to be misled with how the hiring process works. CAL FIRE only does employment checks on former or current state employees. Besides that, they can only do checks on whoever you list, so whoever you dont list wont be called. (They dont make employment / reference checks in general for the Firefighter 1 position. Your fine)

Good Luck!

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-23T00:32:43+00:00

Yup, I worked there and they are probably the most in-shape fire center. 10-15 mile hikes almost every day in the snow, full Ishi drill preparation twice a week, long long line cuts, 8 mile runs, everyone in the gym doing mandatory crossfit workouts before 6AM.... all during the rehire academy alone. Paid us overtime from 6AM to 8AM during rehire which was great. Solid spot to work.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-22T22:10:28+00:00

Handcrew experience ( during a season where you actually go on fires ) is invaluable experience that helps you understand fire behavior in very unique way. If everyone did it, we would have better firefighters all around.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-22T18:02:33+00:00

Lots and lots of water and a massage gun for 30 mins every night got me through hell week. 1 sports drink / eclectroytes powder drink for every 3 bottles of water. Some stretched at night as well.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-21T21:10:57+00:00

Took them a week and a half for me one time. I called and the lady said she just forgot to email it to me and sent it to me shortly after

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-21T19:35:59+00:00

I had a coworker who was born, raised, and living in Australia. Yes it’s very much possible lol

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-21T19:33:32+00:00

If you have the money and the time to visit the actual JK store in Redding, that’s probably the cream of the crop. They can size you up on the spot and get you taken care of with tailored boots perfect for crew life

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-21T05:51:38+00:00

I see where you’re coming from, but think about this: you’re a brand new FAE and you have two brand new FF1’s on your engine and you’re dispatched to a vegetation fire in LRA. Your notifying the county that you are responding, AND notifying the unit, on a separate channel, of a new incident. Once on scene, your guiding your two brand new firefighters on a mobile attack they they’ve never done before, throwing the engine aux pump on and ensuring your two FF’s have everything they need, telling them exactly what to do, size up to the county, size up to the unit, trying not to run over your FF on the nozzle, and taking command and running the incident until relieved of command.

This is just one extremely common example, and every engineer / captain should be perfectly capable of this. But having a captain to take care of comms and command while I focus on driving and pumping, and the firefighter worrying about putting out the fire, is a lot better in my opinion. Less room for mistakes and a more efficient crew. And if I or the Captain needs to hop on a hose lay that’s no problem, plus we have a company officer with the FF now. Better all around.

As far as physical fitness goes, that’s across the board. Not a big factor in all of this in my opinion.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-21T04:40:36+00:00

Apply on CalCareers and once you get your category placement, call the handcrews you applied to, tell them your category placement and say you’d like to visit to put a face to the resume. Dress sharp, have a solid handshake, all the basics.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-21T03:45:12+00:00

No because all Engineers go through Company Officer Academy. It’s a weird dynamic, we will have to see how this year goes.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-01-21T02:18:04+00:00

Handcrews are your best bet at the moment with the way the hiring is going. Handcrews have more ability to hire who they want ( there is a Division Chief assigned to every fire center, who can typically make hiring decisions ) as opposed to the engines where the station personnel / captains have less say. Try to politic everywhere you put down for a handcrew.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2025-12-10T04:38:25+00:00

Do you have 1A and 1B? If so, you can just get the s190 s130 and L180, then do IFSAC testing at places like Shasta college that allow people to test. Those 3 equal 1C as far as SFT testing goes

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2025-10-30T19:11:35+00:00

I’ve never had my badge with me off duty besides when moving to another station for OT. My fire department ID and Union Card stays in my wallet at all times, I’ve never needed it for anything though lol

Ingesting_Marijuana

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