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Fire Prevention Trainee

Orange County Fire Authority
Orange County Fire Authority Salary
Irvine, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 12/29/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 1/29/2026
Description

This classification is scheduled to receive the following Base Salary Adjustments:

2.54% effective May 1, 2026

The OCFA is currently accepting applications in anticipation of future vacancies for the position of Fire Prevention Trainee in the Community Risk Reduction Department. This recruitment will be used to establish an eligibility list for future vacancies.

Class Summary

Incumbents are responsible, under close supervision in a training capacity, to learn to perform a wide variety of technical and specialized fire prevention activities, including fire safety inspections, hazardous materials disclosure, enforcement work, and routine review of various plans. Incumbents may be assigned to the Planning and Development Division, Wildland Pre-Fire Management Division, or the Prevention Field Services Division.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Fire Prevention Trainee is the second level in an eight level fire prevention series. The Fire Prevention Trainee is distinguished from the Senior Fire Prevention Specialist, which has lead responsibilities, and from the Fire Prevention Specialist, which is a journey-level position. Incumbents in this class perform work similar to the next higher level class, but assignments are reviewed more frequently and incumbents receive closer supervision. Work of increasing difficulty and complexity is assigned based upon experience acquired and familiarity with the work. Incumbents are required within one year from date of appointment to develop proficiency and knowledge necessary to advance to the next higher class. Incumbents do not obtain permanent status in this classification.

Essential Functions

(These duties are intended to be representative a sample of the duties performed by the class.)

Under supervision conducts inspections on construction sites and existing occupancies to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local fire codes and regulations.

Under close supervision, review plans, blueprints, equipment, standards, chemical inventories, and processes to ensure compliance with safety requirements.

Review, evaluate, process, and maintain a variety of files related to fire prevention activities. Complete data input and analysis of a variety of information related to fire prevention and occupancies. Drafts reports related to fire prevention activities.

Research and learn to prepare and issue fire and life safety notices, permits, and correction letters that outline compliance issues and deficiencies.

Assist the public, representatives of other public agencies, consultants, and other employers with technical inquiries.

Research and apply current codes and the codes that were applicable at the time of construction.

Attend a variety of continuing education classes, seminars, and/or meetings in an effort to learn applicable codes, regulations, policies, and procedures. Assist in conducting public outreach and training sessions for various customers and audiences.

Learn to interpret and disseminate fire safety and code compliance materials and otherwise assists with public safety programs.

Participate in a variety of special projects related to fire prevention activities.

Perform other duties of a similar nature or level.

Minimum Qualifications

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

EDUCATION (position Requirements At Entry)

High School Diploma, or General Equivalency Diploma (GED)

EXPERIENCE (position Requirements At Entry)

No experience required

Highly Desirable Qualifications

Associates Degree or higher

International Code Council (ICC) Inspector I Certification or coursework

CSFM Inspector I Certification or coursework

Leadership experience

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS (position Requirements At Entry)

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License is required at time of appointment. This classification is subject to enrollment in the California DMV Pull Notice Program, which periodically provides Risk Management with the incumbent's Driver License record and status.

Knowledge Of

KNOWLEDGE (position requirements at entry):

  • Strong verbal and interpersonal skills;
  • Report writing methods;
  • Mathematical concepts;
  • Customer service principles.

Skill In

SKILLS (position requirements at entry):

  • Using computers and applicable software applications;
  • Providing customer service;
  • Performing mathematical calculations;
  • Maintaining records;
  • Handling multiple tasks simultaneously;

Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Tentative Schedule Of Events

  • Recruitment Closes - Monday, December 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm
  • Written Exam - Week of January 12, 2026
  • Oral Interviews - Week of February 2, 2026
  • Selection Interviews - Week of February 17, 2026
  • Anticipated Start Date - April 6, 2026

Written Examination

The minimum passing score is 80%. The written exam will have a weight of 40% of the candidate's overall score. Top scoring candidates will be invited to the panel oral interview.

Panel Oral Interview

The minimum passing score is 80%. The panel interview will have a weight of 60% of the candidate's overall score. Candidates with the highest combined scores will be invited to the selection interview.

Physical Requirements

Positions in this class may typically require: climbing, balancing, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, driving, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Working Conditions

Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, fumes, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, chemicals, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, work space restrictions, intense noises and travel.

NOTE: The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the needs of the department.

Pre-hire Requirements

Before an employee is hired, he/she must successfully complete pre-employment requirements including, but not limited to: fingerprinting and background check, reference check, DMV check, licensure/certification check, Oath of allegiance to the United States of America and the State of California, and proof of eligibility to work in the United States in accordance with Immigration and Reform Control Act of 1986. All job offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam including a drug screen through the OCFA's designated physician.

How To Apply For This Position

When the recruitment opens for this position, an applicant must submit, during the application filing period, an online application and attach any supplemental information as required in the job announcement which may include submitting responses to a supplemental questionnaire. Online resumes and other unsolicited materials may be attached, but will not be considered in lieu of the required online application, unless otherwise specified in the job announcement. The OCFA reserves the right to limit the number of online applications when necessary. Applicants are responsible for maintaining/updating their contact information through the online application system.

Selection Procedures

INITIAL SELECTION REVIEW:

The Human Resources Department reviews all initial application materials to identify qualified applicants. Applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be invited to the first phase of the recruitment process. The OCFA reserves the right to refer only the better qualified applicants if the number of applicants is high. If the number of applicants is high, the review process may include a secondary screening (by a panel of job knowledge experts) of the applications and/or supplemental questionnaires in which the better qualified applicants are referred to the next phase of the recruitment process. Because recruitment processes vary, applicants are advised to thoroughly review the job announcement before submitting their online application materials.

Testing

Testing for this position or any other position may include, but is not limited to the following: written exam, practical exam, panel interview, physical ability test, assessment center, oral presentation, project assignment, etc. If a revision is made to a testing component during a recruitment process, the assigned recruiter will notify by email all affected applicants.

Americans With Disabilities Act (ada) Accommodation

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, anyone who needs an ADA accommodation for the purposes of employment testing should contact the assigned recruiter, Brad Stephens, Senior Human Resources Analyst at (714) 573-6816 or via email at bradstephens@ocfa.org no later than 72 hours prior to any portion of the examination process.

Recruitment/Selection Process And Requirements

All recruitment/selection process and requirements will be held in accordance with the OCFA's Selection Rules, which are available for inspection upon request.

Eligible List

The duration of an Eligible List is one year, unless otherwise specified in the job announcement.

Withdrawing From Recruitment Process

Whenever an applicant chooses to withdraw from a recruitment process, he/she is required to submit an email notification to Brad Stephens, Senior Human Resources Analyst at bradstephens@ocfa.org requesting a withdrawal from the process. The email to the recruiter must include the applicant's current phone number.

Questions

All questions regarding this position should be directed to Brad Stephens, Senior Human Resources Analyst at (714) 573-6816 or via email at bradstephens@ocfa.org.

Note

The provisions of this publication do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision in this publication may be modified or revoked without notice.

Orange County Employees Association (OCEA) Representation: This classification is represented by the OCEA. Please visit http://www.oceamember.org for further information.

Salary / Merit Increases

The Fire Prevention Trainee job classification is a temporary assignment and employees are expected to progress to the next higher position. Therefore, a merit increase does not apply to this position.

Medical Benefit

Benefits

Employees have a choice of medical plans under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program and the Authority contributes towards the cost of health premiums as follows:

  • Employee only: 100%
  • Employee dependent(s): 75%

In 2025: Employees who submit sufficient proof of alternate health coverage may waive coverage and receive a bi-monthly taxable cash payment or apply a portion of the amount below towards the cost of voluntary accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

  • Full-Time Employees - $340.91 per pay period (24 pay periods)
  • Part-Time Employees - $170.46 per pay period (24 pay periods)

In 2026: Employees who submit sufficient proof of alternate health coverage may waive coverage and receive a bi-monthly taxable cash payment or apply a portion of the amount below towards the cost of voluntary accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

  • Full-Time Employees - $386.27 per pay period (24 pay periods)
  • Part-Time Employees - $193.14 per pay period (24 pay periods)

Please visit CalPERS for more information regarding the various plans offered under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program, as well as the current premium rates.

Orange County Employees Association (OCEA) Benefits

The Authority contributes to the OCEA Medical Trust which provides dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, and AD&D coverage. OCEA Supplemental Benefits: With OCEA membership, employees have the option to purchase additional insurance available through the OCEA such as: dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance. For additional information please visit OCEA Health & Welfare Benefits.

Retirement

All regular OCFA employees are members of the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) - a defined benefit retirement program. Employees are enrolled in one of the following retirement formulas based on date of hire.

Legacy General Members: Employees hired on or after December 1, 2012 who establish reciprocity with OCERS are enrolled in the 2% at age 55 retirement formula (Plan N). Employees pay their maximum employee contribution based on age of entry into OCERS (or reciprocal retirement system), including any increases to the maximum employee contribution as calculated by OCERS. The compensation limit for Legacy members for 2025 is $350,000.

New General Members (PEPRA): Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 without reciprocity are enrolled in the 2.5% at age 67 retirement formula (Plan U). Employees contribute 50% of the normal retirement cost toward the employee's retirement contribution but no higher than their maximum employee contribution (based on age of entry into OCERS). The compensation limit for PEPRA members for 2025 is $186,096 (non-Social Security Participants).

For more information about OCERS retirement, please visit OCERS, or view the Retirement Plan HERE.

Deferred Compensation

Employees in regular or limited-term positions may voluntarily participate in the Authority's deferred compensation plan. This plan is provided by Nationwide Retirement Services and allows for pre- and post-tax deferrals.

Retiree Medical Savings Plan

Employees participate in an employer sponsored retirement Healthcare Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) with a contribution of 4.0% of base salary.

Social Security

Orange County Fire Authority employees are not covered under the provisions of Federal Social Security (OASDI); therefore, they are not required to contribute 6.2% of salary towards Social Security.

Medicare

Employees contribute 1.45% to Medicare. Employees whose wages exceed $200,000 in a calendar year shall contribute an additional 0.9%.

Educational Incentive Pay

Education

Employees with college-level semester units or a bachelor's degree or completion of an approved course from the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) or equivalent are eligible for educational incentive pay as follows:

  • 60 units or UTI course = 2.5% of base salary per month or
  • 90 units = 3% of base salary per month or
  • Bachelor's degree = 5.5% of base salary per month

The maximum attainable educational incentive pay is 5.5% of base salary.

Bilingual Pay

Bilingual pay is $.78 per hour.

Tuition Reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement is $2,000 per fiscal year to cover certain expenses associated with academic pursuits.

Vacation

Vacation accrual is based on hours of completed continuous service (regular hours) exclusive of overtime:

  • Upon employment and up to 3 years, up to 80 hours per year
  • After 3 years, but less than 10 years, up to 120 hours per year

Holidays

Employees in the General Unit observe 13 holidays within the calendar year.

  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday
  • Lincoln's Birthday
  • President's Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Indigenous People's Day
  • Veteran's Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Day after Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day

Full-time 9-hour and 8-hour workday employees receive holiday pay for the number of hours they are regularly scheduled to work. When a holiday occurs on the employee's day off, the employee receives 8 hours of holiday pay or 8 hours of compensatory time.

Sick Leave

Sick leave is accumulated from year-to-year and accrues as follows:

  • From date of employment, but less than 3 years, approx 72 hours per year
  • After 3 years, up approx 96 hours per year

At retirement, employees receive a payoff of their sick leave based on their years of full-time continuous service.

Paid Annual Leave

After completion of new probation, an employee is eligible for 36 hours of paid annual leave (PAL). An employee is eligible to use PAL on January 1 of the subsequent year following the employee's completion of new probation. PAL is not cashed out and must be used within the calendar year.

Uniforms

The Authority provides uniforms to employees in designated positions.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

The OCFA offers regular, limited-term, and probationary employees both a Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), which allows you to contribute pre-tax dollars into an account that can be used throughout the year on qualified medical or dependent care expenses. Participants pay fewer taxes and take home more money.

Behavioral Health and Wellness

OCFA offers a variety of behavioral health and wellness services to our employees and their dependents, including access to the OCFA Peer Support Team Members, OCFA Chaplains, and the Counseling Team International (TCTI). TCTI provides behavioral health and wellness services to public safety agency employees and their eligible family members with confidential professional assistance. Support services include, but are not limited to, the following types of situations: marital and family problems, stress/burnout, anger management, separation/divorce, child/adolescent issues, depression, and critical incident/trauma. TCTI also offers life care resource assistance for child care, adoption, elderly and senior care, and financial information.

Pet Discount Program

OCFA has partnered with United Pet Care to offer a pet healthcare program. This program helps employees reduce the cost of escalating veterinary bills at an affordable rate. All pets are eligible regardless of their age or medical condition.

Benevolent Association

Employees have the option to join OCFA’s Benevolent Association which was created to “Take Care of Their Own.” Included in your $8.00 per pay period cost is $10,000 Member Death Benefit, $4,000 Dependent Death Benefit, $30,000 Annual Scholarships for Members and Dependents, Hardship Grants/Loans, Annual Picnic for Members, Holiday Ball, and Retiree Tribute. In addition, Discount Offers- Recreation/Amusement Parks, fitness 19 and 24-Hour Fitness gym membership, discount movie tickets, Angels Baseball game with tailgate party, etc. Membership also allows access to very good supplemental insurances of many types, including, Long Term Disability, Long Term Care, various AFLAC (ICU, Cancer, Accident Injury, CSFA membership, Living Trusts and more. The Family Auxiliary and KIDS Fund (provides monetary assistance only to kids of members), both operate under the Benevolent Association.

Updated 09/2025

This benefit summary is intended to provide an easy way for current and prospective employees to access fringe benefit information, including voluntary options. This summary is intended to be accurate, but it is not an official plan document, and has no legal or binding effect as an expressed or implied contract, or otherwise, and does not alter or amend any provision of the Memoranda of Understanding, Personnel and Salary Resolution, retirement contract, insurance policy contract, or any other official document of the Orange County Fire Authority, including Standard Operating Procedures and General Orders. All insurance benefits described in the summary are subject to the terms and limitations of the Orange County Fire Authority's insurance contracts with individual insurance providers. Should you have any questions pertaining to information in this summary, please contact the Human Resources Department at (714) 573-6800.

01

The Orange County Fire Authority uses e-mail to notify applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of applications. We do so as part of our ongoing efforts to increase efficiency, conserve resources, and minimize delays and costs. Therefore, as an applicant, please ensure that the e-mail address you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. We recommend that you do not share e-mail addresses with other individuals who may inadvertently delete important communications sent to you. Spam or other filters should be adjusted to accept e-mails from ocfa.org and governmentjobs.com. Please read each e-mail notice carefully and in a timely manner. Follow further instructions, if any. Please acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to the above.

  • Yes
  • No

02

Are you a current OCFA employee?

  • Yes
  • No

03

Do you possess a High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED)?

  • Yes
  • No

04

From the choices below, select the highest level of education you have completed.

  • Less than high school diploma or GED
  • High school diploma or GED
  • Some college credits completed
  • Associate's Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Master's Degree
  • PhD

05

Do you possess a valid California Driver License?

  • Yes
  • No

06

Do you possess a valid International Code Council (ICC) Inspector I certificate or coursework in progress? If yes, please attach a copy of your certificate or transcripts.

  • Yes
  • No

07

Do you possess a valid California State Fire Marshal (CSFM) Inspector I certificate or coursework in progress? If yes, please attach a copy of your certificate or transcripts.

  • Yes
  • No

08

Please describe your leadership experience. Include in your answer how you believe that experience will enhance your role as a Fire Prevention Specialist with the OCFA. If you do not possess any leadership experience, please write N/A.

  • Required Question

Salary : $186,096 - $350,000

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