Gold Ridge Fire is now accepting applications for:

Ongoing fire district consolidations along with a permanent Countywide tax measure have created an opportunity for an increased level of service and the need for additional staffing.

Gold Ridge is currently made up of 36 Rank and File suppression members, 3 shift assigned Battalion Chiefs, 2 Division Chiefs and our Fire Chief. We have over 100 volunteers in our combination department. All of this is made possible by our three-person administrative staff. Our paid members are beginning contract negotiations now as their current contract expires June 30th.

The Gold Ridge Fire District currently operates 10 stations and covers a land mass of 226 square miles. Ongoing consolidations could drive that number to 276 square miles and increase the number of Fire Stations to 14 ( 7 staffed ) as early as July 2025.

Applications are due by April 4th and should be sent to:

Gold Ridge Fire District ℅ Hiring

4500 Hessel Road

Sebastopol, CA 95472

*** All applicants will need a valid CPAT before a conditional job offer can be made***

To learn more about Gold Ridge Fire please reach out to Battalion Chief Gino DeGraffenreid by email at gino@goldridgefire.org

Become a Volunteer

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, you are welcome to contact the District to make arrangements to attend a training session to see what it's all about. Applicants must live within the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District boundaries, be at least 18 years old, and be in good physical health.

The application process:

• Complete and submit an application for volunteer firefighter.
• The personnel board will contact you to schedule an interview.
• Upon acceptance, candidates will complete a confidential medical questionnaire.
• You will be wait-listed for the next scheduled in-house training academy. (The academy may be waived by the Fire Chief if the candidate has a California State Firefighter I certification and/or they can demonstrate equivalent training and experience)
• The in-house training academy meets approximately one night per week and last approximately 5 to 6 months.
• After successfully completing the training academy, the new firefighters will be cleared to respond to fire calls and attend mandatory Thursday night drills.

Firefighters meet on Thursday evenings (7 to 10 pm) to drill on fire suppression techniques, and to practice medical skills. Mandatory drill topics include water rescue, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) training, CPR Recertification, vehicle extrication, hazardous materials response, confined space rescue, and response to terrorism incidents.

Become an Explorer

The Exploring program is a division of the Boy Scouts of America that allows youth from age 14 through 21 an opportunity to "try out" a career in the fire service without actually having to go through the educational and hiring process. Members first go through a Basic Training course in order to get familiar with the tools and operations of the fire service. Once completed, they earn the privilege of riding on the fire apparatus with the professional firefighters to real emergency calls. They are allowed to do many of the tasks that paid firefighters do on the fire ground, but largely in a support role. Many of our young volunteers came from our Explorer program and go on to become professional firefighters and paramedics. For more information on the program, contact Post Advisors Captain Mike Badwin (mikebaldwin@goldridgefire.org) or Engineer Ethan McNamara (ethanmcnamara@goldridgefire.org).