Oceanside has quietly sent a new fuels-mitigation hand crew into the field, putting 19 fresh recruits to work trimming, cutting and hauling brush off North County hillsides. The team, known as Fire Mountain Crew 21, spent this week on a slope above homes in Rancho Del Oro, one of several neighborhoods flagged for early-season fuels reduction. City officials say the crew is also expected to back up neighboring cities and nearby installations when larger wildland incidents flare up.
According to city records, the program was approved by the City Council on November 5, 2025, and launched with $300,000 in Measure X money plus $100,000 in grant funding, per City of Oceanside documents. The staff report pitches the hand-crew model as a way to knock down hazardous fuels inside city limits while still providing regional aid when fires break out. The council signed off on up to 30 provisional fuels crew slots so the department can rotate personnel and stay within the program’s financial limits.
On the ground
FOX5 San Diego reported that Fire Mountain Crew 21 was out this week clearing vegetation along a Rancho Del Oro hillside, cutting back brush and feeding it into chippers just behind residential backyards. Crew trainer and daily lead Felix Urrutia told the station, “This is amazing to be honest with you.” Deputy Fire Marshal Blake Dorse added, “We’ve seen a lot of tragic fires in California,” describing the hand crew as a front-line prevention effort meant to keep those scenes from repeating locally.
Program details and partners
The city’s GovernmentJobs.com posting for a “Fuels Crew Member” spells out the nuts and bolts of the operation. It is set up as a three-year pilot with limited-term hires, physically demanding outdoor work and an hourly rate of $18.50. The first group of workers was scheduled to start the week of Feb. 16, according to the bulletin. The posting also notes that crews can be deployed outside San Diego County for two-week assignments, and that basic wildland training and certifications are preferred.
What residents should expect
City documents explain that fuels crews will typically work four 10-hour shifts per week. They are classified as extra-help under the Measure X budget and will rotate between projects to avoid hitting hour caps, according to City of Oceanside staff. The same report notes that Oceanside plans to seek project-based agreements with the Pauma Indian Reservation, the City of Vista and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to help offset costs and move the hand-crew program toward a self-sustaining model.
Residents who spot the crews at work are urged to stay out of active work zones and to stay alert around heavy equipment. The city advises checking its website for project notices and schedule updates. For more on the fuels crew program, including the staff report and job listing, visit the City of Oceanside.
