All Risk Shield - Fire Defense Expert (Phase II)
Location
- Los Angeles, CA
Summary description:
The Fire Defense Expert (FDE) program is a 121–160 day immersive apprenticeship designed for transitioning Service Members seeking careers in wildfire mitigation, property defense operations, and emergency response leadership.
Job description:
The Fire Defense Expert (FDE) apprentice develops the technical and leadership capabilities required to assess, prepare, and defend properties in wildfire-prone environments across California.Primary Responsibilities:• Conduct comprehensive wildfire risk assessments and property evaluations• Produce written vulnerability and mitigation reports• Design and deploy QTAC fire suppression systems• Install and operate portable drafting systems utilizing pools and static water sources• Plan and execute ground-based long-term fire retardant (LTR) applications• Lead small teams during mitigation and operational staging activities• Participate in Red Flag patrols and active wildfire incident deployments• Maintain operational readiness of pumps, vehicles, and field equipment• Operate within ICS-aligned supervision and emergency response structuresSuccessful completion may lead to employment consideration as a Fire Defense Expert with All Risk Shield.
Eligibility factors:
California
Typical pay $65K – $110K/yr
Median pay: $85K/yr
What Firefighters typically earn in California — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data (May 2025). It's the going rate for this line of work, not this employer's offer.CareerPCS publishes these benchmarks with explicit limits so they are not mistaken for an employer offer or a prediction.Read the salary methodology