Every year, California experiences wildfires, and significant resources are dedicated to fighting and preventing these dangerous and destructive fires. Here is an overview of classifications that apply to many of these firefighting and fire prevention operations.

With the exception of aerial firefighting, Classifications 7706, Firefighting Operations – not volunteers – all employees of Fire Department, and 7707, Firefighting Operations – volunteers, serving with or without remuneration, apply to all operations performed when actively fighting fires, including rescue operations, whether performed by fire department employees or other employees. These classifications also apply to operations performed by fire department employees when not actively fighting fires, such as fire hydrant testing, fire investigations and fire prevention services.

Aerial firefighting operations are assignable to Classification 7424(1), Aircraft Operation – other than agricultural or scheduled air carriers – members of flying crew. Ground crews in support of these aircraft operations are assignable to Classification 7428(1), Aircraft Operation – other than agricultural or scheduled air carriers – not members of the flying crew.

Many private employers that are not fire departments engage in wildfire prevention operations. Common operations include:

• Grading fire roads: Assignable to Classification 5507, Street or Road Construction – grading – all operations of bringing roadbed to grade, including clearing and grubbing right-of-way and temporary surfacing
• Weed abatement for fire hazard control purposes: Assignable to Classification 0042, Landscape Gardening
• Clearing land to create firebreaks through the removal of trees, brush and vegetation: Assignable to Classification 2702(2), Land Clearing

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