Fire Dispatcher; Lateral

Position: 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…