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A former Sonoma State professor was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for igniting three fires behind firefighters who were battling the Dixie Fire.
Firefighters serve their communities in a unique and impactful way – going into the emergency when everyone else is going out. But what many people don’t realize is that the majority of firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers. These are neighbors helping neighbors when they need it most. It is this commitment to service and giving back that Mike Rowe highlights on the May 28 episode of The Way I Heard It podcast.
Volunteer first responders lead busy lives, which can make it difficult to pursue personal goals such as higher education. However, with online education becoming more readily available, emergency services personnel are finding it easier to achieve their learning goals while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
May is Wildfire Awareness Month and Cal Fire is bolstering their fleet ahead of peak wildfire season.
As the weather gets hotter and drier, wildfire danger will increase in California.
The Columbia College Fire Academy is pleased to announce that 24 students have earned graduation and Certificates of Completion from the Fire Technology Program. Students who completed Firefighter 1 and 2 were awarded their certificates on May 2, 2024 at Columbia College in Oak Pavilion.
With state officials and climatologists saying hotter than average temperatures in Southern California could lead to an active wildfire season, CalFire is reminding residents to be prepared this wildfire season.
Calaveras County consists of 10 volunteer fire departments:
The CCFCA fire agencies are located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 188 miles east of San Francisco and 135 miles west of Lake Tahoe in California. Found midway on State Highway 49, between Sacramento and Yosemite, Calaveras County links the two towns of the California Gold Country. With an average of 6,000 fire and emergency service calls a year, our 11 fire districts serve a rural area of 45,578 people. We provide fire protection and rescue service to 1,020 square miles of rural area. Our 11 volunteer agencies respond to structure fires, wild land fires, medical emergencies, water rescue, technical rope rescue, hazardous materials spills, public service assistance calls and other emergencies. The Calaveras County Fire Agencies protects an area that is 66% rural wild land, 21% residential, and 3% commercial, including Calaveras Big Trees State Park, a preserve of Giant Sequoia trees, located in the county several miles east of the town of Arnold.
Below is a list of the selection criteria each department requires in order to consider an application for volunteer firefighter. Read the criteria and make sure that you qualify, then click the Apply button to complete your application online.
Although local governments and departments establish different selection criteria, many departments require that volunteers:
Time requirements vary by department. Time commitment will depend on several factors, such as the number of calls the department receives, training requirements, shift versus on-call structure, and community activities in which the department requires volunteers to participate.
Volunteer departments prefer that volunteers have the ability to respond to calls 24 hours a day, although most departments still accept volunteers who are unable to leave work or other obligations to respond to a call.
Typically, departments pay for training and firefighting equipment. Volunteer firefighting is an unpaid position; however, some departments may provide stipends or reimburse volunteers for certain expenses.
