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Victorville staff and firefighters describe hiring gains, ongoing vacancy challenges under AB 2561 presentation
Summary
Human Resources reported a citywide vacancy rate down to 8.2% as of Apr. 21, 2026 and described hiring and retention programs. The firefighters' union urged competitive wages and widened recruitment to address staffing pressure and high call volume.
City human-resources staff and the firefighters’ union presented metrics and proposals at the Victorville City Council’s May 5 meeting as part of an AB 2561 public hearing on vacancies, recruitment and retention.
Human Resources Officer Heather Barber told the council the city had 570 authorized positions, including 72 firefighter positions. Barber reported a December 31, 2025 citywide vacancy rate of 10.2% (51 vacancies) and a firefighter vacancy rate of 8.3% (six vacancies). She said the city filled 119 vacancies in 2025 and received 5,523 applications that year. As of April 21, 2026, Barber said the city had 47 vacancies (an 8.2% vacancy rate) and that nine new hires were onboarded on April 16, 2026 (four firefighter paramedics and five firefighter EMTs).
"This slide will reflect the 2025 vacancy rates ... as of December 31st, 2025 ... the Victorville Professional Firefighters, we had a total of six vacancies at a 8.3% vacancy rate," Barber said during the presentation.
Nick Hower, president of Local 3710 (Victor Professional Firefighters), outlined recruitment obstacles: low applicant turnout, candidates lost to higher-paying departments, applicants who do not qualify, and attrition driven by higher wages and lower call volumes at nearby agencies. Hower recommended broadening the geographic reach of recruitments, modernizing hiring steps and offering competitive wages and benefits.
Hower provided top-step salary comparisons for neighboring agencies, saying Victorville’s firefighter paramedic top step was about $107,000 (and top-out firefighter captain $129,000), while Chino Valley and some other nearby agencies showed materially higher top-step figures.
Council members asked technical questions during the session. Council member Godam sought clarification about whether promotions were included in vacancy counts; HR confirmed promotions were counted among the 113 positions created in 2025 and that promotions reduced the net number of open vacancies. Council members also pressed for details on the firefighter EMT-to-paramedic pathway; presenters said the city now staffs squads with two EMTs and one medic and maintains preceptor stations to give paramedic students field time.
No ordinance or salary change was adopted at the meeting. The AB 2561 presentation was a required annual informational item; staff recommended the council receive and file the presentation.
