San Jose Fire Fighters work an average of 56 hours per week in our base schedule. In addition, we are often required to work overtime, often “mandatory” overtime or long duration strike team deployments.

Our base schedule is designed around the concept of three rotating platoons of firefighters. Each platoon works a shift, and is then relieved by another platoon. These platoons are known alphabetically, and the rotating shifts are known as “A Shift”, “B Shift” and “C Shift”.

Each member is assigned to a specific platoon, but will change platoons often throughout their careers as they move to different stations or promote to higher ranks.

Our shifts are two days long (48 hours of being on duty), followed by four days of rest (96 hours off duty). It is commonly referred to as a “48/96” schedule.