Fire Dispatcher (Lateral)

An additional 9.5% general salary increase will be applied effective July 2025.
Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. This recruitment may close at any time without notice.Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply early. The first review of applications will be conducted on July 11, 2025.
The Ontario Fire Department, Fire Communications Division is currently accepting applications for the position of Fire Dispatcher (Lateral). The Fire Dispatchers are the first to act in an emergency and are the most valuable link between the public and the fire personnel who serve and protect the community. Fire Dispatchers respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service; provide appropriate emergency medical directions; identifies and dispatches fire units using Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software and equipment; gathers and relays critical information to fire personnel; documents calls and responses and complies with Department policies and procedures to assure the safety of City personnel and the public.Fire Dispatchers are eligible for promotion to Senior Fire Dispatcher upon successful completion of a probationary period with the City of Ontario, a minimum of two years of experience as a Fire Dispatcher, satisfactory performance evaluations, and a recommendation from management.

Coming Mid-2026!A brand-new state of the art administration facility is currently under construction where the Fire Communications Center will be located and is expected to open in mid-2026.

Due to the high volume of applications anticipated for this recruitment, the following procedures may apply:

• The City of Ontario reserves the right, if necessary, to accept only the first 100 applications from applicants that meet the minimum qualifications.
• Completed applications will be reviewed and only qualified applicants whose qualifications best meet or exceed the requirements of the position and needs of the City, will be invited to participate further in the selection process.
• This recruitment will result in an eligibility list that will be used to meet any future staffing needs for the department with this classification as positions become available.

Background Check Process

All appointments to this position are subject to the successful completion of an in-depth background investigation conducted by the Ontario Fire Department as well as a physical examination including a drug screening. The background investigation is a rigorous process which often takes several months to complete. A typical background investigation includes but is not limited to: background interviews with individuals designated by the Ontario Fire Department (this may include current and former co-workers, friends, relatives, neighbors, or any other relevant individual), criminal background check, polygraph examination, and physiological evaluation. Candidates may be disqualified from further consideration during the background investigation for a variety of reasons including if they have: arrests and/or convictions; a history of illegal substance abuse; or thefts from a previous employer.

The Ontario Fire Department

The Ontario Fire Department is a team committed to professional and compassionate public service. The Department responds to more than 23,000 calls per year serving and protecting a population well over 180,000 residents, covering nearly 50 square miles. There are ten (10) fire stations that house ten (10) engine companies and four (4) truck companies. The Ontario Fire Communications Center also provides full Fire and EMS dispatching services to the City of Corona which has seven (7) fire stations and serves a population of over 165,000 residents covering 39 square miles.

The Ontario Fire Department is a full-service department providing fire/rescue services; medical services through the department's paramedic program; safety education; fire inspections; plan review; and various specialty teams such as Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting (ARFF), SWAT medics, bomb squad, hazmat, and urban search and rescue.

The Ontario Fire Department is proud to serve the residents, businesses, and visitors of the City of Ontario with a high degree of professionalism. The members of the Ontario Fire Department realize the value of each team member and constantly strive to improve service to the community by living up to the department’s core values:Integrity – Accountability – Service – Respect – Honor.

The City of Ontario

The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City which provides solid leadership to its citizens and to the business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including: Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Public Works and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City's team is staffed with approximately 1,500 full-time and 300 part-time diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community.

The City‘s vision for the future is very exciting and we foresee tremendous growth within the year(s) to come. We welcome you to view the City of Ontario’s 2025 State of the City video by clicking on the link below as well as other links to learn more about the City. State of the City The Ontario Plan

Smart Ontario Downtown Ontario
The essential functions typically performed by Fire Dispatcher (Lateral) include but are not limited to the following:

• Receives, identifies, and records a variety of calls for assistance from the public related to fire and/or medical services.
• Calms distressed callers, uses interview techniques to gain incident information and enters calls for service in a timely and accurate manner.
• Provides pre-arrival medical instructions to callers.
• Provides information to callers, prepares telephone requests for assistance, assigns incident numbers to occurring events, and refers callers to other staff/agencies as appropriate.
• Dispatches proper public safety staff and equipment based on computerized recommendations, response procedure guidelines, and knowledge of agency requirements.
• Communicates with public safety staff in the field and informs emergency command staff of pending responses from other agencies.
• Maintains status of calls via computer screens, keyboard, and other communications equipment.
• Conducts tests of emergency communication equipment as needed.
• Coordinates use of multiple radio frequencies supported by the radio system among ground units and performs routine communication via radio paging for administrative staff.
• Prioritizes safety related information and analyzes data and complex information for situational changes.
• Applies a working knowledge of regional geography for all the areas served by the Communications Center.
• Retrieves information from local, state, and federal databases as requested by field staff investigative purposes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  

Education
High school diploma or recognized equivalent.
Experience
One (1) year of continuous experience in public safety emergency communication two-way radio operations & techniques as well as emergency (9-1-1) call-taking experience within the last three (3) years.
License
A valid California Class "C" driver license and an acceptable driving record at the time of appointment and throughout employment.
Certifications

• Obtain California Law Enforcement Teletype Systems (CLETS) Certification is required within six (6) months of employment.
• Obtain Emergency Medial Dispatcher (EMD) certification issued by the international Academies of Emergency Dispatch prior to the end of the probationary period.
• CPR/First Aid certification prior to the end of the probationary period.

Special Requirements

• Ability to work any shift in a 24-hour/day, 7-day/week operation on a rotational basis including weekends and holidays.
• Ability and willingness to wear mandatory uniform and communication headset.
• Ability to work in an underground location. The current Fire Communications Center is located in the basement of Fire Administration building.
• Ability to provide a Typing Certificate of forty (40) words per minute, (WPM) from a recognized typing agency, if selected to move forward in the recruitment selection process.

Desirables

• Possession of an International Academy of Emergency Dispatch Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) certification.
• Possession of CPR certification.
• Knowledge of the geography and major road networks of the cities of Ontario and Corona and surrounding service areas.

Sample Career Progression

Fire Dispatchers are eligible for promotion to Senior Fire Dispatcher upon successful completion of a probationary period with the City of Ontario, a minimum of two years of experience as a Fire Dispatcher, satisfactory performance evaluations, and a recommendation from management. Employees interested in promoting to the level of Fire Dispatch Supervisor must meet the minimum qualifications for the position and must successfully compete in a recruitment process. The position of Fire Dispatcher (Lateral) and subsequent positions in this career field are both challenging and rewarding due to the nature of emergency work. Below is a sample career progression for an employee in Ontario Fire Department, Fire Communications Division.

Fire Dispatcher$31.32 - $38.44Senior Fire Dispatcher$34.43 - $42.26Fire Dispatch Supervisor$48.59 - $59.04

How to Apply

Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" link at the top of this announcement. If this is the first time applying for a position using governmentjobs.com you will be prompted to create a new user account, otherwise log in with your user name and password. Your application and responses to any supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. It is suggested that your application include the following:

• List any relevant experience and education that demonstrates that you qualify for the position.
• List all periods of employment for at least the past 10 years, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including, if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario).
• Separately list each position held, including different positions with the same employer.

A resume may be attached to your application but will not substitute for the proper completion of your application. Applications that are not properly completed may be rejected.
NOTE:Transcripts from colleges, universities or technical schools outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report will result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.
Application Process
Applicants arerequiredto submit required certification(s) or other required documentation as outlined in the Qualifications Guideline section of this bulletin. Please use the attachment function found on the City's online application to attach copies of the requested certification(s) or other documentation. Failure to attach required certifications may result in the rejection of your application. Please contact the Human Resources Department if you have any questions regarding the application process.
Your application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. List all periods of employment, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including, if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario). List any experience that may help you to qualify for the position. List separately each position held, including different positions with the same employer. Resumes may be included but will not substitute for the employment history section. Failure to complete these sections may result in the rejection of your application.
Supplemental Questions

To complete your application for this position you will be prompted to respond to supplemental questions. This information will be used as part of the application screening and selection process and is designed to help you present your qualifications for this position. This may include a selection step in which your application and supplemental questions are reviewed and scored by a panel of raters familiar with this position.
Incomplete responses, false statements, omission, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Your responses should be consistent with the information provided on your application.
Please provide succinct, concise, descriptive, and detailed information for each question. If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.
Email Notices

Email is the primary way that the Human Resources or Hiring Department will communicate with you. Please check your email account (including the SPAM folder) on a regular basis for any emails related to the application or selection process. Emails from the City of Ontario will come from "@ontarioca.gov" or "governmentjobs.com." If you change your email address after submitting your application please visit governmentjobs.com and update your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any additional questions regarding the application process, please refer to ourFrequently Asked Questionspage.