Examination: Division Chief, CA State Fire Marshal's Office
- Working title
- Division Chief, CA State Fire Marshal's Office
- Monthly salary
- DIVISION CHIEF, CALIFORNIA STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE: $10,783.00 - $13,482.00 per Month
- Exam #
- 4747
- Deadline
- 12/29/2025
- External Link
- View Full Bulletin
00108966 - DIVISION CHIEF, CALIFORNIA STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE
Under general direction, in the California State Fire Marshal's Office, to plan, organize, and direct the activities of a region responsible for the field enforcement and engineering work; or in headquarters, to be responsible for one or more of the Department's statewide programs; and to do other related work.
TYPICAL TASKS
Plan, organize, and direct the fire protection, law enforcement, and administrative work performed by California State Fire Marshal's peace officer and non-peace officer personnel; implement and enforce the Department's laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; implement, monitor, and evaluate policies to ensure compliance; make independent judgments to enlarge or narrow policy applications beyond standard operational procedures to assure mission attainment; secure, train, and evaluate the performance of staff and take or recommend appropriate action; serve as second level reviewer on grievances; coordinate the work of the division with other California State Fire Marshal's Office divisions, State Departments, Federal Government, fire and law enforcement authorities, local jurisdictions, and industry representatives; conduct meetings, conferences, and training sessions; serve as chair or staff for various advisory committees; prepare material for, and testify before, administrative, judicial, and legislative hearings, including Congressional hearings; initiate, prepare, and/or analyze legislative or regulatory proposals for State and program impact; assist in the preparation of legal actions; prepare and/or review technical articles for publications; prepare workload and related personnel, fiscal, management, and systems analyses; develop annual divisional goals and objectives; research and develop budget change proposals; represent the State Fire Marshal at meetings; enforce fire protection and safety codes; review and evaluate fire safety codes and standards analyses; investigate complaints (may personally conduct informal or formal hearings when necessary to obtain compliance with fire and life safety standards); review architectural drawings and specifications; conduct facility inspections; conduct inspection of interstate and intrastate hazardous liquid pipelines for public safety and pipeline operators' activities for compliance with State and Federal requirements; conduct hydrostatic testing of pipelines; provide emergency response to, and investigations of, pipeline accidents; review and approve the lifting and licensing of fire safety products, building materials and furnishings, fire protection and extinguishing systems, and fireworks; review and approve laboratory analyses of flame retardant fabrics, chemicals, and explosive materials; develop and certify fire service and staff training programs; develop regulations; review legislative bill analysis; provide a fire safety awareness, education, and information program; and develop fire protection information systems and data management.
SPECIAL PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Willingness to work throughout the State, at nights, and weekends. Use of "hard" drugs (e.g., heroin, cocaine, or hallucinogenic) at any time as an adult constitutes a basis for disqualification from peace officer examinations.
ADDITIONAL DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
A good driving record and possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles may be required at the time of appointment.
FELONY DISQUALIFICATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 1029, persons convicted of a felony are disqualified from employment as peace officers except as provided under Welfare and Institutions Code, Division 2, Chapter 3, Article 8, Section 1179(b), or Division 2.5, Chapter 1, Article 4, Section 1772(b). Except as provided for by these statues, persons convicted of a felony are not eligible to compete for, or be appointed to, positions in this class.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031, persons successful in peace officer examinations shall be required to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to appointment. Persons who have previously undergone a Department of Forestry and Fire Protection background investigation may be required to undergo an additional background investigation.
WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENT
Existing law provides that peace officers be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
AGE REQUIREMENT
Must meet minimum age requirement to be appointed as a California peace officer per the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and in accordance with existing law.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
Existing law provides that a peace officer must be a high school graduate, pass the General Education Development (GED) Test indicating high school graduation level, pass the California High School Proficiency Examination, or have attained a two-year or four- year degree from an accredited college or university.
All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.
00108966 - DIVISION CHIEF, CALIFORNIA STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICEEither I
Experience: Two years of experience with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection performing duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to a Deputy State Fire Marshal III (Supervisor) or Deputy State Fire Marshal III (Specialist).
Or II
Experience: Four years of experience in a supervisory or managerial capacity in professional engineering, fire protection, fire and life safety regulatory development, and/or legislative bill analysis and advocacy, fire protection engineering, fire service training/development, hazardous liquid pipeline safety, law enforcement, criminal justice administration, or fire protection information systems development work. AND
Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in public administration, fire service administration, fire protection and technology, fire protection engineering, architecture, law enforcement, or criminal justice administration. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)
Note: Applicants qualifying under Pattern II above must provide a copy of their four-year degree or a copy of their transcripts indicating the degree was obtained with the required coursework.
Final Filing Date: 12/29/2025.
Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will not be accepted.
Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
If using the United States Postal Service (USPS) for delivery, there is no guarantee that your application will be postmarked and arrive by the final filing date. If your application does not have a postmark and arrives after the final filing date, your application may not be accepted into the examination. Therefore, to ensure timely delivery of your application, it is recommended that you use either parcel service, or certified mail. Using one of these options will provide proof the application was sent prior to the final filing date.
Who Should Apply
The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.
Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):
- DIVISION CHIEF, CALIFORNIA STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE - Open
All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements by the final filing date of December 29, 2025, unless otherwise noted.
- Once you have participated in this examination, you may not test again for six (6) months.
- Applicants who have not passed probation in this classification are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.
Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.
You may apply by mail to:
- Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Examination Unit
710 Riverpoint Ct.
West Sacramento, CA 95605
Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
- Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Examination Unit
710 Riverpoint Ct.
West Sacramento, CA 95605
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.
Please note the following:
1.) A State Application (STD 678) is REQUIRED and must be submitted.
2.) A Training and Experience (T&E) Narrative document is also REQUIRED and must be submitted with your application packet.
3.) If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications under Pattern II, please attach a copy of your diploma and/or transcripts showing proof of coursework/completion/graduation, to your application packet.
4.) All applicants must include "from" and "to" employment dates (month/day/year), time base, and applicable civil service class titles on their STD 678. Applications received without this information may be rejected.
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Special Testing Arrangements
If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.
If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.
Application Link
Division Chief, CA State Fire Marshal's OfficeQuestions regarding this examination should be directed to:
CAL FIRE Examination Unit710 Riverpoint Ct.
West Sacramento, CA 95605
Phone: (916) 894-9580
CALFIREexams@fire.ca.gov
CAL FIRE Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator
710 Riverpoint Ct.
West Sacramento, CA 95605
Phone: (916) 767-8359
ReasonableAccommodations@fire.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.