It’s a hot market for firefighter jobs throughout Sonoma County with dozens of recent hires and more openings available as numerous agencies hustle to fill slots and bolster staffing.
Jobs are open at small and large agencies — even PG&E is hiring its own firefighting staff, which is a first for the utility company seeking at least 50 firefighters for high fire danger areas in the state, including the North Bay.
And like the housing market, if location is everything then that’s also been in firefighters’ favor.
Job postings have cropped up on the Sonoma Coast, along the Russian River, and along the Highway 101 corridor from Santa Rosa to the south county.
“Everybody seems to be hiring. It’s crazy out there,” said Rancho Adobe and Petaluma Fire Chief Leonard Thompson, who has nine positions to fill between now and early next year for Rancho Adobe. “We’re in a fight to get the best candidates.”
Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman said the hiring spree makes him concerned about competition.