r/calfire

What should I expect?

Been on the crew past 3 seasons I unfortunately left early last year due to a passing in the family I always was Cat 2 Engine and 1 Crew I hope this year I get an engine spot now that I’m Cat 1 did you all receive your letters today?

Anyone have any info on the next academy start date?

Has anyone gone through the FFA in Riverside recently? How was your experience there

Anyone know/can guess when LNU will start to implement their FF2 spots? I’m guessing we’re waiting for May revise/budget implementation.

Just a few thoughts from someone who has been around for a bit. Most of this applies to FAE.

-If you marked a location on your form, be prepared to say YES or NO when the phone rings. Asking to “think about it” sets the process back, and now other people are waiting on you to answer before it can proceed. Complain all you want about the archaic nature of it, it it’s what it is.

-Consider, do you really need to promote? Do you even want to? Can you comfortably work in an environment you’ve not been in and be successful/adaptable/confident?

-Are you willing to be a supervisor? This is a dead serious question I think a lot of people fail to consider. You will be a company officer. You have to be the one to set the standard, abide by that standard. You have got to understand that all the dumb shit you don’t want to do, guess what, find a way to motivate your folks to do it. No, I don’t want to go and do “XYZ’s” either, but we are and here is why, and here is the plan on how we are gonna do them.

-You went from top of the food chain (hopefully) as a firefighter and now you’re bottom as an engineer. Remember that. You don’t deserve anything to be given to you. Earn the respect, earn the high marks on the evals, earn the right to be in your position. Don’t show up to show up and be worthless. Actually accomplish something once in a while.

-Learn what you don’t know. Spend 30 minutes every evening reviewing policy/procedure/SOG/MOU, know this shit. All the firefighter skills, you should have mastered those by now, otherwise this is not a position you should be accepting.

-You don’t know everything, don’t pretend to. Speak confidently, but be able to back up your statements.

-Know the difference between the MOU and Policy. It’s incredible how often these get confused (usually by the overconfident fucks).

-When items are due, do them. You don’t have any excuse not to, (as someone who has heavy admin workload) I promise you that. I manage to get them done on top of everything else I have going.

-Be a good team leader. Motivate your people, train them, encourage them. Remember, if it’s you and 2 FFs, you’re the lead. Find humility, but have a backbone.

-Don’t read those stupid “leadership” books that everyone who listens to Joe Rogan picks up, find something more worthwhile and meaningful. Probably get a book or two on human psychology in the workplace.

-Wear the uniform with pride, or don’t wear it at all.

-Expect and ensure PPE is worn at all times when required.

-Read the room and figure out when your opinion matters, and more so when it doesn’t. A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool speaks because he has to.

-Before you spread a rumor, or “intel”, validate its truth. Stop being that guy that spreads shit that they heard from someone else who doesn’t know shit.

-Remember what it means to be that first day FF1 again. Please don’t accept job if you aren’t ready, and willing to learn.

-If you are coming from an outside agency, WELCOME. We are happy to have you, we welcome your experience, and leadership. Just remember that this is a massive place with so many different tasks, policies, ways to doing things, it’s a lot… ask questions!

I also gave this a vague title, likely it’ll be subject to the same questions ever other thread asks, but whatever. I also wrote this on mobile and there’s so much more I could say, maybe?

Anyway, I could probably add more things to my checklist, but seeing as how I’m sure I’ll end up seeing some new fresh faces shortly… some who deserve it, and some who managed to fill out some forms correctly. Go forth and be good. Maybe some other salty fucks can add some stuff here.

Category letters should be going out this week. Got some little insight applications got sent out to all the units today. Make sure to keep those phone lines open. I’m pretty sure they are going to start making phone calls this week especially with how busy this FIRE season is going to be California has been popping off fires left and right

Anyone been to FFA in Ione as of recently? What was your experience there, how was the cadre, what was the lodging situation/food like and any studying tips that best prepared you? Any and all information is greatly appreciated.

Hi I'm a former fed who has an EMT, in a class A CDL program currently, and has an academy later this year. Is there anything else specific I should do (other than medic) that will improve my application?

I’m feeling out options for when my body is broken later in life, which seems like it’s coming sooner every year. Has anyone here gone from being a firefighter to a PIO job and could PM me about it?

for an LT ff2 when does the two year station commitment start the day you started as a FF2 or the day you got a permanent offer for the FF2?

Using an anonymous account for this one because not sure who actually reads this

Im a new engineer and im assigned to work schedule B. However Im often being sent to work at schedule A stations. Because of the new 66 hour schedule there are days where we are extra on engineers so they send the extra guy to another station. I wouldn't really care except they send me to schedule A stations where I am well outside my comfort level. I have worked schedule B and handcrew my whole time as a firefighter and I have no interest in working in schedule A. Ive tried to explain to my supervisors that I dont want to work schedule A but usually I get the response of "dont worry youll do fine" and "it will be good for you," etc. I know the basics of driving and pumping the schedule A engines but I am just not confortable or well versed in schedule A. I am getting the feeling that the schedule A people at the station are starting to dislike me too, they can probably sense I dont want to be there. Not sure what to do, any advice?

Hi there.

I currently work in WA state doing admin for the state fire marshal running a basic firefighter training program and facilitating IFSAC testing. I’m a Sacramento native and I may be moving back to Sacramento for personal reasons. I know CalFire is a much larger organization than ours is up here. Do roles like this exist at CalFire? Or what might be something similar for this org?

I’d appreciate any advice as this move came on suddenly and figuring out my next steps would take some weight off my shoulders. Thanks for any advice.

I have been with the department a little over one year now as an engineer coming over from the feds with 12 years experience running crews and engines. I’m so happy with the change and the unit I am in but I definitely miss the busier side of working down south.

I am holding off putting in a transfer or claiming hardship. My father is in heart failure and my oldest child has severe autism, the move to help my commute has really hurt him academically and he misses his grandpa/grandma immensely.

A lot of my fellow engineers and captains are telling me to put in for captains jobs and head down south to try and improve my families situation.

I just have heard that now that I am on JAC I am flagged and I cannot put in for captains positions. Others have said that the old way of circumventing the transfer process.

I just wanna know if that is truly even an option and how bad does it look?

I’m wondering how cal fire can hire felons? Do they still hire felons to be cal fire firefighters? Can they work on a fire engine? Doesn’t California not allow felons to hold a California emt license?

Right now Calfire is my dream future department. Could anyone that’s there right now talk about their FF/PM pay after overtime as well as just general experience working there?

Is Calfire accepting applications for full time firefighter paramedic I can’t for the life of me navigate the website

My supervisor at my current job told me that CalFire contacted him for a reference check close to 4 weeks ago and I’m curious if I will be getting an interview? Its for the forestry technician position I applied for in November or January or March lol (I applied all over the state)

I applied b4 march 31st