HOW TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER Jeremy Frasca Firefighter/Paramedic Escondido Fire Department

WHERE TO BEGIN….. WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A FIEFIGHTER?

WHAT DOES A FIREFIGHTER DO? FIRE SUPRESSION STRUCTURAL WILDLAND ETC PROVIDE BASIC AND ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID EMT-B PARAMEDIC PERFORMS RESCUE HAZ MAT EXPLOSIVES FIRE PREVENTION PUBLIC EDUCATION GENERAL ASSITANCE

DAY IN THE LIFE 24 HOUR SHIFT (0800 – 0800) LUNCH RELEIVE OTHER CREW HAVE GEAR READY WORK OUT CHECK OUT RIG AND ALL EQUIPMENT DINNER CLEAN UP MORNING LINE UP DOWN TIME CHORES SLEEP….MAYBE DRILL …OH, AND RUN CALLS INSPECITONS

EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL FIRST RESPONDER COURSE EMT-B ROP FIRE SCIENCE FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING GRADUATE FIRST RESPONDER COURSE EMT-B 1 SEMESTER NATIONAL REG. COUNTY ACCREDITATION 1 YEAR EXPERIENCE FIREFIGHTER 1 ACADEMY EMT-PARAMEDIC 1 YEAR LONG CLASS ROOM / SKILLS CLINICAL INTERNSHIP STATE CERTIFIED

FIRE EXPLORER ESCONDIDO FIRE EXPLORERS SAN DIEGO FIRE CADET PROGRAM AGES 15-21 MEETINGS ONCE A MONTH RIDE ALONGS SERVICE https://fire.escondido.org/explorers.aspx SAN DIEGO FIRE CADET PROGRAM Minimum age of 16 and in the 10th grade to 21 years old. Enrollment in an accredited high school (maintaining a grade point average of 2.0 or high school graduate attending college. Eyesight corrected to 20/20 and color vision acceptable. Applicant must successfully pass the 6 month Probationary period and an oral interview http://www.sandiego.gov/fire/careers/cadetprogram.shtml

EXPLORER CONT. CHULA VISTA FIRE EXPLORERS AGES 16-21 http://www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/fire-department/fire-explorers

RIDE ALONGS GREAT EXPERIENCE DAY TO DAY LIFE OF A FIRE FIGHTER PARTICIPATE IN FIRE STATION LIFE AND DUTIES OBSERVE CALLS NETWORKING DO A LOT OF THEM!!

RIDE ALONG ETIQUETTE DRESS PROFESSIONAL SHOW UP ½ HOUR EARLY CLEAN AND NEAT DRESS PANTS DARK IN COLOR WITH A BELT COLLARED SHIRT TUCKED IN BLACK DRESS SHOES OR CLEAN BLACK WORK BOOTS WELL GROOMED NO HATS NO QUESTIONABLE TATTOOS AND/OR PEIRCINGS EXPOSED SHOW UP ½ HOUR EARLY DON’T SHOW UP EMPTY HANDED (TREATS AND STUDY MATERIAL)

RIDE ALONG ETIQUETTE “BIG EARS AND SMALL MOUTH” POSITIVE ATTITUDE BE MOTIVATED ASK QUESTIONS PARTICIPATE IN STATION DUTIES BRING YOUR MEAL(S) OR CASH FOR MEALS DON’T BE THAT CREEPY WEIRDO RIDE ALONG DON’T OVERSTAY YOUR WELCOME HAVE FUN!!

HIRING PROCESS AVERAGE 2-5 YEAR GOAL TO GET HIRED APPLICATION S STANDARD TEST PHYSICAL AGILITY INTERVIEWS (MAY BE MULTIPLE) BACKROUND INVESTIGATION HIRED

PROBATION 1 YEAR LONG MULTIPLE TEST DAY IN THE LIFE EARLY TO WORK ALWAYS PREPARED MOTIVATED RUNS THE CALLS DRILLS TRAINING CHORES, CHORES AND MORE CHORES LAST TO BED FIRST TO RISE (IN FULL UNIFORM) FLAG IS UP, COFFEE IS FULL AND HOT AND NEWSPAPER IS ON THE TABLE LEAVE ASSIGNED RIG BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT LAST TO LEAVE

WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW? DO WELL IN SCHOOL STAY OUT OF TROUBLE….. KEEP ACTIVE STAY OUT OF TROUBLE…. EXPLORER PROGRAM FIRE HOUSE VISITS FIND A MENTOR STAY OUT OF TROUBLE

RESOURCES RIDE ALONGS BOOKS VISIT A LOCAL FIRE HOUSE TO SEE WHAT THE PROCESS IS BOOKS http://www.aspiringfirefighters.com/

RESOURCES WEBSITES http://www.aspiringfirefighters.com/ http://www.firefightermedic.com/ http://www.firecareers.com/

NEVER FORGET 9-11-2001

JEREMY FRASCA jfrasca@ci.escondido.ca.us QUESTIONS?