Almost 300 state firefighters whose promotions were suspended after Cal Fire discovered suspected cheating on a November 2016 exam can move up the ranks as long their individual results are vetted one more time, according to a Thursday decision from the State Personnel Board.
The board voted to allow Cal Fire to promote from an exam that it dismissed last month when it reported that it found “irregularities” on a test that captains must pass before advancing to battalion chief. Cal Fire’s decision meant 289 captains who passed the test would have to retake it this summer before moving up the ranks.
Their union, Cal Fire Local 2881, on Thursday asked the personnel board to uphold the promotion list, arguing that only one promotion candidate allegedly cheated on the test.